Atypical preference for infant-directed speech as an early marker of autism spectrum disorders? A literature review and directions for further research. (4th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Filipe, Marisa G.; Watson, Linda; Vicente, Selene G.; Frota, Sónia
• Is Part Of: Clinical linguistics & phonetics. Volume 32:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2018-03-04
• Subjects: Autism spectrum disorders -- early markers -- infant-directed speech -- review; Language disorders -- Periodicals; Applied linguistics -- Periodicals; Phonetics -- Periodicals; 616.855
• DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2017.1342694
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9206

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) refer to a complex group of neurodevelopmental disorders causing difficulties with communication and interpersonal relationships, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests. As early identification, diagnosis, and intervention provide better long-term outcomes, early markers of ASD have gained increased research attention. This review examines evidence that auditory processing enhanced by social interest, in particular auditory preference of speech directed towards infants and young children (i.e. infant-directed speech – IDS), may be an early marker of risk for ASD. Although this review provides evidence for IDS preference as, indeed, a potential early marker of ASD, the explanation for differences in IDS processing among children with ASD versus other children remains unclear, as are the implications of these impairments for later social-communicative development. Therefore, it is crucial to explore atypicalities in IDS processing early on development and to understand whether preferential listening to specific types of speech sounds in the first years of life may help to predict the impairments in social and language development.