title: Variation in vocal-motor development in infant siblings of children with autism.
abstract: In this study we examined early motor, vocal, and communicative development in a group of younger siblings of children diagnosed with autism (Infant Siblings). Infant Siblings and no-risk comparison later-born infants were videotaped at home with a primary caregiver each month from 5 to 14 months, with follow-up at 18 months. As a group, Infant Siblings were delayed in the onset of early developmental milestones and spent significantly less time in a greater number of postures, suggestive of relative postural instability. In addition, they demonstrated attenuated patterns of change in rhythmic arm activity around the time of reduplicated babble onset; and they were highly likely to exhibit delayed language development at 18 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 3415 Sennott Square, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA. jiverson@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Jana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Iverson
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wozniak
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014705:Verbal Behavior