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

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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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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.

Original language	English
Journal	Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Early online date	5 Jan 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 5 Jan 2023

Keywords

Communication
Infancy
Language
Measurement
Natural Language Sampling
Parent–Child Interaction

Access to Document

10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3

JACP-D-22-00108_R2Accepted author manuscript, 1.43 MB

PRIME-RU: Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit (PRIME-RU)
Wittkowski, A. (PI), Gregg, L. (CoI), Wan, M. (CoI), Smith, D. (CoI), Lemetyinen, H. (Researcher), Reid, H. (Researcher) & Millard-Brewer, L. (Researcher)
1/10/20 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
Pre-School Autism Intervention and Autism Development: A Longitudinal Follow-Up of the Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT).
Green, J. (PI)
1/10/12 → 31/03/15
Project: Research

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Hudry, K., Smith, J., Pillar, S., Varcin, K. J., Bent, C. A., Boutrus, M., Chetcuti, L., Clark, A., Dissanayake, C., Iacono, T., Kennedy, L., Lant, A., Robinson Lake, J., Segal, L., Slonims, V., Taylor, C., Wan, M. W., Green, J., & Whitehouse, A. J. O. (2023). The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3

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

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",

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

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Hudry, K, Smith, J, Pillar, S, Varcin, KJ, Bent, CA, Boutrus, M, Chetcuti, L, Clark, A, Dissanayake, C, Iacono, T, Kennedy, L, Lant, A, Robinson Lake, J, Segal, L, Slonims, V, Taylor, C, Wan, MW , Green, J & Whitehouse, AJO 2023, 'The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism', Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3

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AU - Hudry, Kristelle

AU - Smith, Jodie

AU - Pillar, Sarah

AU - Varcin, Kandice J

AU - Bent, Catherine A

AU - Boutrus, Maryam

AU - Chetcuti, Lacey

AU - Clark, Alena

AU - Dissanayake, Cheryl

AU - Iacono, Teresa

AU - Kennedy, Lyndel

AU - Lant, Alicia

AU - Robinson Lake, Jemima

AU - Segal, Leonie

AU - Slonims, Vicky

AU - Taylor, Carol

AU - Wan, Ming Wai

AU - Green, Jonathan

AU - Whitehouse, Andrew J O

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AB - 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.

KW - Communication

KW - Infancy

KW - Language

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

Abstract

Keywords

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Projects

PRIME-RU: Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit (PRIME-RU)

Pre-School Autism Intervention and Autism Development: A Longitudinal Follow-Up of the Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT).

Cite this