title: A Relationship Between Early Language Skills and Adult Autistic-Like Traits: Evidence from a Longitudinal Population-Based Study.
abstract: The current study examined the relationship between early language ability and autistic-like traits in adulthood, utilising data from 644 participants from a longitudinal study of the general population. Language performance at 2 years was measured with the Language Development Survey (LDS), and at 20 years the participants completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Vocabulary size at 2 years was negatively associated with Total AQ score, as well as scores on the Communication, and Social Skills subscales. Adults who had been late talkers were also more likely to have 'high' scores on the Communication subscale. This is the first study to show an association between early language ability and autistic-like traits in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Therapies Building (84A), Services Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. r.armstrong@uqconnect.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, Perth, WA, 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J O
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Building 71/918, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital Campus, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia.|Metro North Mental Health, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Therapies Building (84A), Services Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.|Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Building 71/918, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital Campus, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Copland
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Building 57, Research Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Katie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Therapies Building (84A), Services Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Therapies Building (84A), Services Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.|Hear and Say Centre, 29 Nathan Avenue, Ashgrove, Brisbane, QLD, 4060, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Arnott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D066107:Social Skills; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014825:Vocabulary
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Autistic-like traits; Early language skills; Late talking; Raine Study