title: Value-added predictors of expressive and receptive language growth in initially nonverbal preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Eighty-seven preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders who were initially nonverbal (under 6 words in language sample and under 21 parent-reported words said) were assessed at five time points over 16 months. Statistical models that accounted for the intercorrelation among nine theoretically- and empirically-motivated predictors, as well as two background variables (i.e., cognitive impairment level, autism severity), were applied to identify value-added predictors of expressive and receptive spoken language growth and outcome. The results indicate that responding to joint attention, intentional communication, and parent linguistic responses were value-added predictors of both expressive and receptive spoken language growth. In addition, consonant inventory was a value-added predictor of expressive growth; early receptive vocabulary and autism severity were value-added predictors of receptive growth.
authors.affiliation: Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA, Paul.Yoder@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yoder
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014705:Verbal Behavior