The relationship between gamma-band neural oscillations and language skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their first-degree relatives.

BACKGROUND: Most children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have co-occurring language impairments and some of these autism-specific language difficulties are also present in their non-autistic first-degree relatives. One of the possible neural mechanisms associated with variability in language functioning is alterations in cortical gamma-band oscillations, hypothesized to be related to neural excitation and inhibition balance. METHODS: We used a high-density 128-channel electroencephalography (EEG) to register brain response to speech stimuli in a large sex-balanced sample of participants: 125 youth with ASD, 121 typically developing (TD) youth, and 40 unaffected siblings (US) of youth with ASD. Language skills were assessed with Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals. RESULTS: First, during speech processing, we identified significantly elevated gamma power in ASD participants compared to TD controls. Second, across all youth, higher gamma power was associated with lower language skills. Finally, the US group demonstrated an intermediate profile in both language and gamma power, with nonverbal IQ mediating the relationship between gamma power and language skills. LIMITATIONS: We only focused on one of the possible neural contributors to variability in language functioning. Also, the US group consisted of a smaller number of participants in comparison to the ASD or TD groups. Finally, due to the timing issue in EEG system we have provided only non-phase-locked analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Autistic youth showed elevated gamma power, suggesting higher excitation in the brain in response to speech stimuli and elevated gamma power was related to lower language skills. The US group showed an intermediate pattern of gamma activity, suggesting that the broader autism phenotype extends to neural profiles.

The relationship between object play, language, and visual and motor skills in children at risk of developmental disorders between 12 and 37 months.

BACKGROUND: Exploratory object play is a primary strategy in amassing knowledge about one's environment and determines the development of language skills at a later age. However, still much remains unknown about how object play is related to visual and language development in children at risk of developmental disorders. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Forty-four children at risk of developmental disorders aged 13 to 37 months took part in the study. The measurement of object play relied on observation of children manipulating novel objects. Language skills were assessed by the Mullen Scales. RESULTS: The results indicate that there is a correlation between specific object play behaviours, language and visual skills. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study support the hypothesis that the relationship between visual and language skills and object play in children at risk of developmental disorders is different in younger and older children.

Effects of word length and frequency on word identification in second- and fifth-grade children as a function of language skills.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the combined effect of word length and lexical frequency in a lexical decision task in second- and fifth-grade children with varying language skills. The participants, 47 second graders and 55 fifth graders, performed a lexical decision task in which word length and lexical frequency were manipulated orthogonally so that 32 words were short and frequent (e.g., fleur [flower]), 32 words were short and rare (e.g., navet [turnip]), 32 words were long and frequent (e.g., escalier [staircase]), and 32 words were long and rare (e.g., boussole [compass]). Language skills (phonological awareness, reading, vocabulary, and rapid automatized naming skills) were measured using standard language tests. The results showed that word length and, to a lesser extent, lexical frequency influence the speed and accuracy of word identification in different ways, depending on the children's educational level. Furthermore, language skills were found to influence the effects of word length and frequency, differently in second- and fifth-grade children. The results are interpreted within the dual-route model of visual word recognition. The role of language skills in the implementation of these processes is also discussed.

Investigation of early literacy skills of preschool children with hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: Early literacy development is critical for children with hearing loss to develop literacy skills in the years to come. The aim of this study is to compare the early literacy skills of 60-72 months' children with hearing loss to the results of children with normal hearing. METHODS: A total of 40 children (20 children with hearing aid (HA) and 20 children with normal hearing (NH) were evaluated in the study. Receptive and expressive language was assessed by Test of Early Language Development (TELD-3) and Early Literacy Test (EROT) was applied to assess the early literacy skills of all children in the study. RESULTS: The receptive and expressive language results of the hearing-impaired group were significantly lower than those of normal hearing. Moreover, in EROT when a general analysis is made with main test titles such as, the vocabulary knowledge, letter knowledge, the listening comprehension, results showed that there was a significant difference between the HA and NH groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of supporting early literacy skills, which are prerequisite skills for reading and writing skills, in children who receive both mainstreaming education and special education in the risk group and/or continue their education in kindergarten.

[Social inequality in the context of digital health applications: digital divides in access, use, effectiveness, and privacy]. / Soziale Ungleichheit im Zusammenhang mit digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen: Digitale Spaltungen in den Bereichen Zugang, Nutzung, Wirksamkeit und Privatsphäre.

Given the massive increase in digital health tools, the question about the impact of these tools on health equity has gained importance. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the extent and central aspects of the digital divide. To illustrate the extent of the digital divide, we draw on data from the Liter@te study, which interviewed low-literacy individuals regarding their use of digital health tools and their digital health literacy. The results of the Liter@te study are compared with population surveys conducted in parallel. Four areas can be distinguished in relation to digital divides: access, use, effectiveness, and privacy. Inequalities can be observed in all four areas. While differences in access or material infrastructure, as well as in usage patterns and the required literacies, have already been investigated in some studies, the data basis for a comprehensive assessment of the unequal effects of digital health tools in different population groups is still lacking. Digital divides in the area of privacy protection is an emerging field. However, transparent and understandable privacy measures will undoubtedly be an important prerequisite for the widespread use of digital health tools. Overall, in addition to a better data base, involvement of disadvantaged population groups in the development of digital health interventions is necessary.

Language profiles in Noonan Syndrome - A multiple case study.

Noonan Syndrome (NS) is a genetic disorder associated with a diverse range of symptoms. This study aims to provide a comprehensive description of the linguistic profiles of children and adolescents with NS, focusing on vocabulary, grammar skills, phonological memory skills, working memory skills, and visuospatial skills. Sixteen participants aged 6-16 took part in the study. The findings reveal substantial variation in the affected linguistic areas, with some participants demonstrated normal findings, while inconsistent and overall weak language skills were observed in a large subgroup of participants.

Language, cognitive, and speech in noise perception abilities of children with cochlear implants: a comparative analysis by implantation period and bilateral versus unilateral cochlear implants.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the language, cognitive, and speech in noise (SiN) perception abilities of children with cochlear implants (CIs) to those of their peers with NH by grouping them according to their implantation period (12-18 months/19-24 months) and unilateral/bilateral CI use. METHODS: The sample comprised 50 children with cochlear implants (CIs) and 20 children with normal hearing (NH), ages 6-9 years. Children's language, cognitive, and speech in noise (SiN) perception skills were assessed. RESULTS: Children with CIs between 12 and 18 months and 19 and 24 months performed more poorly than children with NH on language, verbal memory (VM), verbal-short-term memory (V-STM), verbal working memory (V-WM), rapid naming, and speech in noise (SiN) perception abilities measures (p < 0.001). In addition, children with CIs between 19 and 24 months performed worse on rapid naming and V-WM tasks than children with CIs between 12 and 18 months (p < 0.017). Children with unilateral and bilateral CI performed more poorly than children with NH on language, VM, V-STM, V-WM, rapid naming, and SiN perception abilities assessments (p < 0.001). Additionally children with unilateral CI users performed poorly than children with bilateral CI users on SiN perception (p < 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: In children with congenital hearing loss (CHL), cochlear implantation between 12 and 18 months or sequential bilateral implantation is not sufficient for these children to perform like their NH peers in language, cognitive, and SiN perception abilities. In addition, intervention approaches should focus not only on increasing language skills, but also on cognitive abilities.

Figurative language processing in autism spectrum disorders: A review.

Impairments in the broader domain of pragmatics are considered to be a defining feature of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). A challenging aspect of pragmatic competence is the ability to process nonliteral language. Interestingly, previous studies in figurative language comprehension in ASD have demonstrated conflicting results regarding participants' performance. The main scientific debate focuses on the underlying skills which facilitate processing of nonliteral speech in ASD. Namely, Theory of Mind (ToM), language abilities and Executive functions (EFs) are regarded as factors affecting autistic individuals' performance. This review addresses figurative language comprehension in ASD in light of the above three interpretive accounts. We reviewed data from recent studies in this field concluding that autistic children indeed encounter systematic difficulties in the processing of non-literal language. Moreover, only ToM and verbal skills were found to correlate the most with figurative language comprehension in ASD. Notably, we found that differences related to research methodology and tasks' properties may have led to discrepancies between studies' results. Finally, we argue that future studies should encompass in their experimental design figurative comprehension tasks with minimal linguistic demands and also measures of ToM, verbal ability and EFs in order to shed more light in the independent contribution of those skills to the processing of nonliteral language in ASD.

IDLaS-NL - A platform for running customized studies on individual differences in Dutch language skills via the Internet.

We introduce the Individual Differences in Language Skills (IDLaS-NL) web platform, which enables users to run studies on individual differences in Dutch language skills via the Internet. IDLaS-NL consists of 35 behavioral tests, previously validated in participants aged between 18 and 30 years. The platform provides an intuitive graphical interface for users to select the tests they wish to include in their research, to divide these tests into different sessions and to determine their order. Moreover, for standardized administration the platform provides an application (an emulated browser) wherein the tests are run. Results can be retrieved by mouse click in the graphical interface and are provided as CSV file output via e-mail. Similarly, the graphical interface enables researchers to modify and delete their study configurations. IDLaS-NL is intended for researchers, clinicians, educators and in general anyone conducting fundamental research into language and general cognitive skills; it is not intended for diagnostic purposes. All platform services are free of charge. Here, we provide a description of its workings as well as instructions for using the platform. The IDLaS-NL platform can be accessed at www.mpi.nl/idlas-nl .

Competing views on interventions for pragmatic language skills in persons with pragmatic language impairment: An umbrella review.

This umbrella review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pragmatic language interventions and existing competing views in improving pragmatic language skills in persons with pragmatic language impairment (PLI). A comprehensive search was conducted to identify qualitative and quantitative systematic reviews that included diagnostic criteria, features, development and course, risk and prognostic factors, differential diagnosis of PLI, and existing interventions, views, and arguments to improve the pragmatic language abilities/skills of persons with PLI. Syntheses were critically appraised by two independent reviewers using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. This umbrella review was registered with PROSPERO on 9th December 2022 under the registration number CRD42022378690. Out of 3,609 studies, 42 reviews were included in this umbrella review. The extracted findings were categorized based on theoretical intervention perspectives, which included behavioral, social-pragmatic, and cognitive-linguistic approaches. The studies revealed that pragmatic language interventions had a positive impact on improving pragmatic language skills in persons with PLI. However, competing views on pragmatic language interventions were also identified, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive approach that includes both behavioral and cognitive-linguistic components. In conclusion, cognitive-linguistic approach was the most documented intervention method, and suiting intervention methods to the complex nature of PLI is crucial. The documented intervention methods reflected competing views on the nature of PLI, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.

Guiding Mothers About Early Detection and Addressing Speech Delay and Disorders Among Children in a Rural Setup.

Introduction Speech is one of the most important milestones to be achieved by a growing child. The significance of being informed about different pediatric speech abnormalities, especially to mothers, allows them to help their children in cases of irregularities in the maturation in this domain. Aim and objectives The study aimed to assess and educate mothers on the important milestones of speech delay in children and make them address the issue and be aware of various corrective measures to treat the underlying conditions of speech disorders in children. The objectives of the study include understanding the pre-acquired knowledge of the mothers regarding the delay in speech in children, imparting knowledge regarding different speech disorders and their management, spreading awareness on how to seek help for various underlying causes of speech irregularities or delay, and to train the mothers into approaching the challenges in an orderly manner. Methods A study was conducted to guide rural mothers visiting the Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatric out-patient departments and Neonatal wards in a rural tertiary care hospital situated in the Sawangi Meghe village of Wardha City, Maharashtra, India, about the detection and treatment of children with disabilities of speech as early as possible. The mothers' knowledge was assessed before and after the study with the help of questionnaires, and basic understandable information on different types, causes, symptomatology, and management of speech delay and disorders among children was explained with the help of group discussions and posters. Results The motive behind this study was to be aware of facts known by the rural mothers, their actions on coming across such presentations by their children, cues that they would pick up, and the need to ask for help at the appropriate time were assessed and elaborated if not known by them. The Relative Learning Gain and Normalized Gain were calculated to be 76.43% and 0.74 (high gain), respectively, and out of the total subjects, 97.16% of mothers voted that this study proved helpful, and six mothers (4.23%) benefited with the intervention and were referred to experts for evaluation of their children. Conclusion Awareness in this field is necessary to manage children's development, especially by their mothers. Knowing the prevalence of knowledge in mothers may build an association with the prevalence of the recognized cases of speech disorders in children. Evaluation at different community levels may be conducted to gauge the need to impart required knowledge about speech disabilities in children to the maternal population. Future research and the impartation of knowledge to caregivers are vital to promote vigilant and systematic action to be taken regarding the proper growth of their children.

Linguistic Skills and Socioeconomic Status: Two Oft Forgotten Factors in Child Metaphor Comprehension.

Metaphor understanding can be tricky for children until mid-childhood, yet some research suggests that pre-schoolers are already competent. Many factors have been proposed to play a role in the development of metaphor comprehension. In this study we focus on two obvious contenders that have been overlooked in recent years: general language skills and socioeconomic status (SES). Two-hundred and seventy-two children, aged from 2;11 to 11;04 (146 girls) were recruited from 21 British schools and nurseries. Their SES was established using a composite measure linked to school location, while general language skills were assessed using a standardised measure of vocabulary comprehension. Novel metaphor comprehension was tested with a simple reference assignment task. Our study confirms that children interpret novel metaphors confidently from the age of 4. Our findings indicate that novel metaphor understanding is associated with age and, importantly, that it is linked to vocabulary skills, as well as SES, but not gender. These two factors should therefore be considered in future research on metaphor development, as well as intervention and education.

Brief report: noise reduction in preschool from a self-regulated learning perspective-implementation of a game-based voice regulation training program.

An 8-week voice regulation training program (VRTP) incorporating everyday activities was implemented in an experimental preschool classroom (EG; n = 34), which was compared with a control preschool classroom (CG; n = 31). The VRTP includes songs, games, and conversations aiming to raise children's awareness of noise levels and teach voice modulation skills. Grounded in the theoretical framework of self-regulated learning, the study's objectives were to evaluate the impact of the VRTP on noise levels, children's self-regulation, and pre-literacy skills. Noise levels were assessed weekly using an electronic noise meter before and during the program. The EG preschoolers demonstrated modest but significant improvements over their pre-VRTP levels of voice modulation, behavioral and emotional self-regulated learning, and pre-literacy skills, in contrast with the CG children. The findings provide evidence that young children's self-regulation may be enhanced in preschool, challenging the field of developmental-educational psychology to consider self-regulated learning during early childhood.

Intraverbal Assessment for Persons with Aphasia or Other Acquired Brain Injury.

An intraverbal assessment was administered to older adults with aphasia, using a hierarchy of questions that required increasingly complex verbal discriminative stimulus control. Five categories of errors were defined and analyzed for putative stimulus control, with the aim to identify requisite assessment components leading to more efficient and effective treatments. Evocative control over intraverbal error responses was evident throughout the database, as shown by commonalities within four distinct categories of errors; a fifth category, representing a narrow majority of errors, was less clear in terms of functional control over responses. Generally, questions requiring increasingly complex intraverbal stimulus control resulted in weaker verbal performance for those with aphasia. A new 9-point intraverbal assessment model is proposed, based on Skinner's functional analysis of verbal behavior. The study underscores that loss or disruption of a formerly sophisticated language repertoire presents differently than the fledgling language skills and errors of new learners, such as typically developing children and those with autism or developmental disabilities. Thus, we would do well to consider that rehabilitation may require a different approach to intervention than habilitation. We offer several thematic topics for future research in this area.

Virtual voice assistant applications improved expressive verbal abilities and social interactions in children with autism spectrum disorder: a Single-Subject experimental study.

The use of interactive technologies has been demonstrated to enhance verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as the social interaction tendencies of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We examined effects of using Virtual Voice Assistant (VVAs) in children with ASD with respect to two outcomes: speech skills and social interaction skills. A single-case study included three children with ASD (4-11 years old) that utilized VVAs for three months. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to measure the communication and social interaction skills of the participating children. Participant One, Two and Three showed improvement in the number of correct words produced the VVA intervention. All participants showed increases in social interactions in the intervention phase. Overall, the results showed that the VVAs had positive effects on the speech and social interaction skills of autistic children. The findings demonstrate that children with ASD may benefit from VVAs to improve their communication skills.

Intervenciones parentales para el desarrollo lingüístico- comunicativo en preescolares con Trastornos del Neurodesarrollo: una revisión sistemática / Parental interventions for linguistic-communicative development in preschoolers with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: a systematic review

Resumen En el actual escenario sociosanitario enfrentado a raíz de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2, múltiples actividades se han visto mermadas, e incluso, suspendidas por los largos periodos de aislamiento social y las medidas de cuidado para evitar contagios. En este sentido, muchas personas han dejado de recibir con la misma regularidad, o bajo las mismas circunstancias, sus tratamientos, incluyendo a niños con Trastornos del Neurodesarrollo (TND). Es así como surgen las intervenciones Parentales. Estas son programas donde los padres o cuidadores primarios son entrenados para llevar a cabo acciones terapéuticas con el niño y cuyo objetivo puede estar orientado a promover múltiples habilidades. El objetivo de la presente revisión sistemática fue determinar el efecto de estas intervenciones para promover el lenguaje y la comunicación en niños con diagnóstico de TND de entre 2 y 5 años. Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en las bases de datos ERIC, MEDLINE y PubMed, considerando publicaciones de entre enero del 2010 y marzo de 2022. De las 9885 referencias iniciales, y posterior a las etapas de tamizaje y elegibilidad, 5 fuentes primarias cumplieron con los criterios de selección. Los resultados indican que las intervenciones parentales para habilidades de comunicación serían efectivas e incluso se mantendrían los efectos en medidas de seguimiento. En cuanto a las habilidades de lenguaje, los resultados a través de los estudios son contradictorios. Por otra parte, ninguno de los estudios reporta efectos adversos para los niños. En cuanto a efectos beneficios o adversos para padres o cuidadores primarios, ninguno de los estudios incluidos reporta medidas asociadas.

Abstract In the current socio-sanitary scenario that we are facing as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic, there have been many activities that have been reduced and even suspended due to long periods of social isolation and care measures to avoid contagion. In this sense, many people have stopped receiving their treatments with the same regularity or under the same circumstances, including children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. This is how parental interventions correspond to programs where parents or primary caregivers are trained to carry out therapeutic actions with the child and whose objective may be aimed at promoting multiple skills. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effect of these interventions to promote language and communication in children diagnosed with Neurodevelopmental Disorders between 2 and 5 years of age. A systematic search was carried out in the ERIC, MEDLINE and PubMed databases including publications between January 2010 and March 2022. Of the 9885 initial references, and after the screening and eligibility stages, 5 primary sources met the selection criteria. The results indicate that parental interventions for communication skills would be effective, and the effects would even be maintained in follow-up measures. Regarding language skills, the results across studies are contradictory. On the other hand, none of the studies reported adverse effects for children. Regarding beneficial or adverse effects for parents or primary caregivers, none of the included studies reported associated measures.

Long-Lasting Effects of Changes in Daily Routine during the Pandemic-Related Lockdown on Preschoolers' Language and Emotional-Behavioral Development: A Moderation Analysis.

The quantity and quality of environmental stimuli and contexts are crucial for children's development. Following the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), restrictive measures have been implemented, constraining children's social lives and changing their daily routines. To date, there is a lack of research assessing the long-lasting impacts that these changes have had on children's language and emotional-behavioral development. In a large sample of preschoolers (N = 677), we investigated (a) the long-lasting effects of changes in family and social life and in daily activities over the first Italian nationwide COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown upon children's linguistic and emotional-behavioral profiles and (b) how children's demographic variables and lifelong family characteristics moderated these associations within a multiple-moderator framework. Our findings showed a relationship between the time spent watching TV/playing video games and affective problems that was moderated by the number of siblings. Our findings showed that children who could be at high risk in more normal circumstances, such as only children, have been particularly harmed. Therefore, assessing the long-term effects of lockdown-related measures and how these could have been moderated by potential risk/protective factors added significant information to the existing literature.

Describing communication profiles of low-risk preterm and full-term late talkers.

INTRODUCTION: Late talkers represent a heterogeneous population. We aimed to describe communication profiles of low-risk preterm and full-term late talkers according to their receptive and expressive vocabulary size, considering communicative, linguistic, cognitive, and motor skills, as well as biological and environmental risk factors. METHODS: Sixty-eight late talkers (33 born low-risk preterm and 35 full-term) were identified through a language screening at 30 months. Parents filled out the Italian Short Forms of the MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventories and the Socio Conversational Skills Rating Scales. Children were assessed with the Picture Naming Game test and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. RESULTS: A two-step cluster analysis identified three distinct profiles among late talkers according to their receptive and expressive vocabulary size. Severe late talkers (25%) showed less frequent use of pointing, limited verbal imitation, receptive vocabulary size, lexical and sentence production, responsiveness and assertiveness, and lower cognitive scores than mild late talkers (40%). Moderate late talkers (35%) showed less frequent verbal imitation, limited lexical and sentence production and lower cognitive scores than mild late talkers. Male gender was significantly more represented in the severe late profile, whereas other biological and environmental factors did not differ among the three profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlighted the relevance of assessing communicative, lexical, grammar, pragmatic, and cognitive skills to describe late talkers' profiles. A deeper investigation of phonological skills might also contribute to a further understanding of interindividual variability in this population.

Associations of breastfeeding duration and cognitive development from childhood to middle adolescence.

AIM: To assess the dose-response association between the duration of any breastfeeding and cognitive skills in children from 5 to 15 years of age. METHODS: The data from the longitudinal cohort study Growing up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (children born in 1999-2000 and 2003-2004) were accessed. Language skills were assessed via Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test at 5, 7 and 9 years of age (N = 8643), and non-verbal intelligence was assessed via Matrix Reasoning subtest from Wechsler Intelligence Scale at 7, 9 and 11 years of age (N = 8560) and executive functions were examined via Cogstate Cognitive Testing battery in 15 years old (N = 6213). Breastfeeding was assessed via maternal questionnaires, partly prospective. RESULTS: A longer duration of breastfeeding was significantly associated with greater language skills from 5 to 9 (0.05 [95% CI, 0.03-0.08], p < 0.0001) and greater non-verbal intelligence from 7 to 11 years of age (0.02 [95% CI, 0.01-0.04], p < 0.001). No significant relation was found between the breastfeeding duration and executive functions in 15 years old. CONCLUSION: These results support a dose-response relationship between breastfeeding duration and language skills and non-verbal intelligence during childhood and early adolescence.

T-PALS framework to assess children who stutter with coexisting disorders: A tutorial.

The purpose of this paper is to present a tutorial on a diagnostic framework developed to assess children who stutter and exhibit co-existing disorders. While we have guidelines for treating these children, there are no specific guidelines for assessing them. We provide a rationale for the development of T-PALS with support from the literature. The T-PALS framework assesses 5 foundational key elements for the child: Temperament (T), Pragmatics (P), Articulation/phonology (A), Language (L), and Stuttering (S). Both qualitative and quantitative measures are used within each dimension. This framework is discussed with reference to using two clinical case examples. T-PALS observation data are presented as well as treatment suggestions for each case. We conclude that T-PALS may be a useful framework for both clinicians and researchers, working with children who present with stuttering and comorbid conditions. Clinicians are encouraged to reach beyond the traditional focus on solely assessing the stuttering behavior, even when that is the main concern for referral, and to consider a broader view of the child. It is hoped that this more integrative approach to assessment may yield a more holistic diagnostic picture of a dual diagnosis child from which treatment goals can be derived.