RESUMEN
This study examined longitudinal growth in gestures and words in infants at heightened (HR) versus low risk (LR) for ASD. The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory was administered monthly from 8 to 14 months and at 18 and 24 months to caregivers of 14 HR infants diagnosed with ASD (HR-ASD), 27 HR infants with language delay (HR-LD), 51 HR infants with no diagnosis (HR-ND), and 28 LR infants. Few differences were obtained between LR and HR-ND infants, but HR-LD and HR-ASD groups differed in initial skill levels and growth patterns. While HR-LD infants grew at rates comparable to LR and HR-ND infants, growth was attenuated in the HR-ASD group, with trajectories progressively diverging from all other groups.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno del Espectro Autista/psicología , Desarrollo Infantil/fisiología , Gestos , Trastornos del Desarrollo del Lenguaje/psicología , Hermanos/psicología , Vocabulario , Adulto , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/diagnóstico , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/epidemiología , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Trastornos del Desarrollo del Lenguaje/diagnóstico , Trastornos del Desarrollo del Lenguaje/epidemiología , Estudios Longitudinales , MasculinoRESUMEN
During the first year of life, infants spend substantial amounts of time exploring objects they encounter in their daily environments. Perceptuo-motor information gained through these experiences provides a foundation for later developmental advances in cognition and language. This study aims to examine developmental trajectories of visual, oral, and manual object exploration in infants with and without risk for autism spectrum disorder before the age of 1 year. A total of 31 infants, 15 of whom had an older sibling with autism and who were therefore at heightened risk for autism spectrum disorder, played with sounding and nonsounding rattles at 6 and 9 months of age. The results suggest that heightened-risk infants lag behind their low-risk peers in the exploration of objects. The findings are discussed in terms of how delays in object exploration in infancy may have cascading effects in other domains.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno Autístico , Conducta Exploratoria/fisiología , Conducta del Lactante/fisiología , Actividad Motora/fisiología , Riesgo , Hermanos , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , MasculinoRESUMEN
Adults modify their communication when interacting with infants, and these modifications have been tied to infant attention. However, the effect infant-directed action on infant behavior is understudied. This study examined whether infant-directed action affects infants, specifically their attention to and exploratory behaviors with objects. Forty-eight 8- to 10-month-old infants and their caregivers participated in a laboratory session during which caregivers demonstrated objects to infants using infant-directed action. Results indicated that variation in amplitude and repetition were tied to differences in infant attention, and varying levels of repetition were tied to differences in object exploration.