title: Predictors of phrase and fluent speech in children with autism and severe language delay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence and predictors of language attainment in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and severe language delay. We hypothesized greater autism symptomatology and lower intelligence among children who do not attain phrase/fluent speech, with nonverbal intelligence and social engagement emerging as the strongest predictors of outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data used for the current study were from 535 children with ASD who were at least 8 years of age (mean = 11.6 years, SD = 2.73 years) and who did not acquire phrase speech before age 4. Logistic and Cox proportionate hazards regression analyses examined predictors of phrase and fluent speech attainment and age at acquisition, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 372 children (70%) attained phrase speech and 253 children (47%) attained fluent speech at or after age 4. No demographic or child psychiatric characteristics were associated with phrase speech attainment after age 4, whereas slightly older age and increased internalizing symptoms were associated with fluent speech. In the multivariate analyses, higher nonverbal IQ and less social impairment were both independently associated with the acquisition of phrase and fluent speech, as well as earlier age at acquisition. Stereotyped behavior/repetitive interests and sensory interests were not associated with delayed speech acquisition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights that many severely language-delayed children in the present sample attained phrase or fluent speech at or after age 4 years. These data also implicate the importance of evaluating and considering nonverbal skills, both cognitive and social, when developing interventions and setting goals for language development.
authors: Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA. wodka@kennedykrieger.org
authors: Ericka L
authors: EL
authors: Wodka
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Mathy
authors: Luther
authors: L
authors: Kalb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013060:Speech