title: Relation between early motor delay and later communication delay in infants at risk for autism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motor delays have been reported in retrospective studies of young infants who later develop Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we prospectively compared the gross motor development of a cohort at risk for ASDs; infant siblings of children with ASDs (AU sibs) to low risk typically developing (LR) infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 AU sibs and 24 LR infants were observed at 3 and 6 months using a standardized motor measure, the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). In addition, as part of a larger study, the AU sibs also received a follow-up assessment to determine motor and communication performance at 18 months using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly more AU sibs showed motor delays at 3 and 6 months than LR infants. The majority of the AU sibs showed both early motor delays and later communication delays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small sample size and limited follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early motor delays are more common in AU sibs than LR infants. Communication delays later emerged in 67-73% of the AU sibs who had presented with early motor delays. Overall, early motor delays may be predictive of future communication delays in children at risk for autism.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, United States.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Landa
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002657:Child Development; D003142:Communication; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D035781:Siblings; D012919:Social Behavior