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. ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• January 2023

Several researchers have hypothesised that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show encoding delays in their obligatory event-related potentials (ERPs)/ event-related fields (ERFs) for low-level auditory information compared to neurotypical (NT) samples. However, empirical research has yielded varied findings, such as low-level auditory processing in ASD samples being unimpaired, superior, or impaired compared to NT samples. Diverse outcomes have also been reported for studies investigating ASD-NT differences in functional lateralisation of delays. ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• March 2021

Developmental theory and previous studies support the potential value of prodromal interventions for infants at elevated likelihood of developing autism. Past research has supported the efficacy of parent-mediated prodromal therapies with infants from as early as 7 months. We outline the rationale for implementing interventions following this model from even earlier in development and report on the feasibility of a novel intervention developed following this model of parent-mediated infant interventions. ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• June 2022

The aim of this study is to review research on the pre-existing characteristics which differentiate mothers of children with ASD and/or ID of unknown cause... ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2013
• April 2013

Most support programmes for Autistic children are available only after they are diagnosed. Research suggests that parenting supports may be helpful for parents and their infants, when provided in the first 2 years of life - before a formal diagnosis is given, but when information suggests an infant is more likely to be Autistic. However, we do not know how acceptable these types of supports might be to the Autistic and autism communities. ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• July 2024

While early exposure to alcohol may influence the development of facial structures, it does not appear to be associated with ASD phenotypic variability ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2020
• March 2020

An increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children of immigrant backgrounds has been observed ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2019
• September 2019

A comparison of parents’ experiences of getting a diagnosis for their child with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and both diagnoses can inform our understanding of common and unique themes across these neurodevelopmental conditions. ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• January 2023

Technology-based interventions may provide a relatively low-cost addition to existing therapist-delivered interventions for children with ASD ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2017
• September 2017

The aim of the paper is to outline the future of early identification and intervention of ASD and the research goals to be addressed to achieve this vision. ...

• Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2017
• June 2017