The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism

Kristelle Hudry; Jodie Smith; Sarah Pillar; Kandice J Varcin; Catherine A Bent; Maryam Boutrus; Lacey Chetcuti; Alena Clark; Cheryl Dissanayake; Teresa Iacono; Lyndel Kennedy; Alicia Lant; Jemima Robinson Lake; Leonie Segal; Vicky Slonims; Carol Taylor; Ming Wai Wan; Jonathan Green; Andrew J O Whitehouse

doi:10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3

The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism

Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2023 Apr;51(4):529-539. doi: 10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3. Epub 2023 Jan 5.

Authors

Kristelle Hudry¹, Jodie Smith^{2

3}, Sarah Pillar⁴, Kandice J Varcin^{4

5}, Catherine A Bent², Maryam Boutrus^{4

6}, Lacey Chetcuti^{2

6}, Alena Clark⁴, Cheryl Dissanayake⁷, Teresa Iacono⁸, Lyndel Kennedy^{2

7}, Alicia Lant⁴, Jemima Robinson Lake⁴, Leonie Segal⁹, Vicky Slonims¹⁰, Carol Taylor¹¹, Ming Wai Wan¹¹, Jonathan Green^{12

13}, Andrew J O Whitehouse^{4

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia. k.hudry@latrobe.edu.au.
² Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
³ School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
⁴ Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
⁵ Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.
⁶ Cooperative Research Centre for Living With Autism, Brisbane, QLD, 4068, Australia.
⁷ Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
⁸ Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3550, Australia.
⁹ Australian Centre for Precision Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
¹⁰ Children's Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
¹¹ Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 PL9, UK.
¹² Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 PL9, UK.
¹³ Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M25 3BL, UK.

PMID: 36602626
DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3

Abstract

Natural Language Sampling (NLS) offers clear potential for communication and language assessment, where other data might be difficult to interpret. We leveraged existing primary data for 18-month-olds showing early signs of autism, to examine the reliability and concurrent construct validity of NLS-derived measures coded from video-of child language, parent linguistic input, and dyadic balance of communicative interaction-against standardised assessment scores. Using Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software and coding conventions, masked coders achieved good-to-excellent inter-rater agreement across all measures. Associations across concurrent measures of analogous constructs suggested strong validity of NLS applied to 6-min video clips. NLS offers benefits of feasibility and adaptability for validly quantifying emerging skills, and potential for standardisation for clinical use and rigorous research design.

Keywords: Communication; Infancy; Language; Measurement; Natural Language Sampling; Parent–Child Interaction.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
Child
Child Language
Communication
Humans
Infant
Language
Reproducibility of Results

Grants and funding

MR/K005863/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom