Autistic Siblings Research Articles

Correlates of Emotional and Tangible Reciprocity in Adult Siblings of Individuals With Autism.

Sibling relationships often involve exchanges of emotional and tangible support. When one sibling has a disability, the nature of the reciprocity of such support may differ from sibling pairs wherein no disability is present. Specifically, when an individual has autism, the nature of emotional and tangible reciprocity is unclear given the potential for a supportive or caregiving role of the sibling without autism. In this study, 256 adult siblings of autistic individuals completed a national survey. Analyses included descriptive statistics describing the nature of reciprocity and hierarchical regressions to identify the correlates of emotional and tangible reciprocity. Overall, participants often reported not giving or receiving much tangible support to/from their autistic sibling while they often gave and, to some extent received, emotional support from their autistic sibling. When the autistic sibling had more asocial behaviors, participants were more likely to provide emotional support than receive it. When participants engaged in more caregiving, they both gave and received more emotional and tangible support. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Can combining existing behavioral tools improve identification of infants at elevated likelihood of autism in the first year of life?

Many families have concerns about their infants' development in the first year of life. Current screeners cannot tell whether these differences might be related to autism, developmental delays, or likely to resolve on their own. As a result, many families are told to "wait and see." In this study, we looked at whether combining multiple behavior measures can improve prediction of outcomes in toddlerhood. This could help to provide families with more information about the significance of early behavioral differences. We assessed 256 infants with an older autistic sibling at 6, 9, and 12 months. We created three markers of behavioral differences at these ages. We looked at whether infants who had two or more markers were more likely to be on the autism spectrum or have other developmental differences than to have typically developing outcomes at 36 months. We found that very few infants had more than one marker at any age. However, infants who showed two or more markers were more likely to be on the spectrum or have other developmental differences at 36 months than infants who showed only one marker. These findings suggest that when behavioral differences are present on multiple measures, there is no need to wait and see before referring for services.

Familial Recurrence of Autism: Updates From the Baby Siblings Research Consortium.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to be ∼10 times higher in children with versus without an autistic sibling in population-based studies. Prospective studies of infant siblings have revealed even higher familial recurrence rates. In the current prospective longitudinal study, we provide updated estimates of familial ASD recurrence using a multinational database of infants with older autistic siblings. Data were collated across 18 sites of the Baby Siblings Research Consortium, an international network studying the earliest manifestations of ASD. A total of 1605 infants with an older autistic sibling were followed from early in life to 3 years, when they were classified as ASD or non-ASD. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling, with site as a random effect, was used to examine predictors of recurrence in families and calculate likelihood ratios. A total of 20.2% of siblings developed ASD, which is not significantly higher than the previously reported rate of 18.7%. Male infant sex and >1 older affected sibling were significant predictors of familial recurrence. Proband sex also influenced recurrence rates, with siblings of female probands significantly more likely to develop ASD than siblings of male probands. Race and maternal education were also associated with recurrence in families. The familial recurrence rate of ASD, as measured in infant sibling studies, has not changed appreciably since previous estimates were made in 2011. Younger siblings of autistic children, particularly those who are male, have an affected female sibling, multiple affected siblings, or are impacted by social inequities, should be closely monitored and promptly referred for diagnostic evaluation.

Mid-childhood autism sibling recurrence in infants with a family history of autism.

Autism sibling recurrence in prospective infant family history studies is ~20% at 3 years but systematic follow-up to mid-childhood is rare. In population and clinical cohorts autism is not recognized in some children until school-age or later. One hundred and fifty-nine infants with an older sibling with autism underwent research diagnostic assessments at 3 years and mid-childhood (6 to 12 years (mean 9)). We report the autism sibling recurrence rate in mid-childhood and compare developmental and behavioral profiles at mid-childhood and 3 years in those with earlier versus later recognized autism, and those who had, or had not, received a community autism diagnosis. The autism recurrence rate in this sample in mid-childhood was 37.1%, 95% CI [29.9%, 44.9%] and higher in boys than girls. Around half of those diagnosed with autism in mid-childhood had not received a diagnosis at 3 years. Later, diagnosis was more common in girls than boys. While some had sub-threshold symptoms at 3, in others late diagnosis followed a largely typical early presentation. Sibling recurrence based on community clinical diagnosis was 24.5%, 95% CI [18.4%, 31.9%]. Those who also had a community diagnosis tended to be older, have lower adaptive function and higher autism and inattention symptoms. Notwithstanding limitations of a single site study, modest sample size and limits to generalisability, autism sibling recurrence in family history infants may be higher in mid-childhood than in studies reporting diagnostic outcome at 3 years. Findings have implications for families and clinical services, and for prospective family history studies.

Living with My Autistic Sibling: A Phenomenology Study

This research aims to understand the experiences and meaning of individuals who have siblings with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants were seven individuals aged 12 to 25 years who had siblings with ASD living in Indonesia. Data were collected through 60-90 minute semi-structured interviews discussing their personal experiences and perspectives on daily life with their autistic sibling. The interview results were analyzed using thematic analysis which found four main themes: early experiences post siblings' diagnosis, implication on siblings, siblings' relationships, and siblings' perspectives. Young adult participants shared the process of receiving siblings' diagnosis that were influenced by age, how it was communicated by parents, and their own viewpoint of the diagnosis, several adjustments they had to withstand up to their acceptance of the siblings' condition. They also described caregiving role and responsibility for their siblings' future, whereas adolescent participants expressed their own struggles, hope and needs for siblings' recovery.

Close Relationships Despite the Challenges: Sibling Relationships and Autism

AbstractThis study explores the experiences of siblings of autistic adolescents within families. Without the novel insights generated from engaging with siblings of autistic adolescents within a qualitative framework, it can be challenging to develop strategies for practicing effectively with this group or structuring interventions with these families. Using a social constructivist approach and qualitative participatory methodology, the exploratory study was conducted using in-depth interviews with ten non-autistic siblings, analyzed via a thematic analysis method. The results reveal a common feeling of uncertainty and apprehension in the relationships, leading siblings to physical and emotional detachment from their autistic brothers or sisters. The research emphasizes the caregiving roles predominantly taken up by sisters, especially when the autistic sibling is a brother with intellectual disability. These roles exert substantial demands, with unclear boundaries suggesting potential role confusion. The findings have important implications for family practice, necessitating the need to address role conflict and promote role clarity. They also underscore the gendered nature of caregiving, advocating for support to sister-siblings in these roles. This study revealed the complexities of sibling relationships in families with a member who is an autistic adolescent sibling. The study suggests interventions that promote open family dialogues for a balanced approach to family roles, providing valuable guidance to practitioners to enhance siblings and family well-being.

Enrichment of a subset of Neanderthal polymorphisms in autistic probands and siblings

Homo sapiens and Neanderthals underwent hybridization during the Middle/Upper Paleolithic age, culminating in retention of small amounts of Neanderthal-derived DNA in the modern human genome. In the current study, we address the potential roles Neanderthal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) may be playing in autism susceptibility in samples of black non-Hispanic, white Hispanic, and white non-Hispanic people using data from the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research (SPARK), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and 1000 Genomes (1000G) databases. We have discovered that rare variants are significantly enriched in autistic probands compared to race-matched controls. In addition, we have identified 25 rare and common SNPs that are significantly enriched in autism on different ethnic backgrounds, some of which show significant clinical associations. We have also identified other SNPs that share more specific genotype-phenotype correlations but which are not necessarily enriched in autism and yet may nevertheless play roles in comorbid phenotype expression (e.g., intellectual disability, epilepsy, and language regression). These results strongly suggest Neanderthal-derived DNA is playing a significant role in autism susceptibility across major populations in the United States.

Maternal autistic traits and anxiety in children with typical development in Chinese families: a moderated mediation model of mothers' negative emotional expressions and child gender.

Prior studies have focused on the effects of maternal autistic traits on children with autism, but little attention has been paid to the effects of maternal autistic traits on typically developing children, while the mechanisms of the effects are not clear. Given that, a moderated mediation model was conducted to examine the association between maternal autistic traits and typically developing children's anxiety and the underlying mechanisms. Participants were 648 mother-child dyads in which these children had no autistic siblings. Mothers reported their autistic traits and negative emotional expressions in the family and children's anxiety. The results indicated that children's anxiety was predicted by maternal autistic traits. Mediating analysis revealed that mothers' negative emotional expressions partially mediated the association between their autistic traits and children's anxiety. The findings also indicated that child gender moderated the relationship between maternal emotional expressions and children's anxiety. Specifically, anxiety in girls was more strongly predicted by negative emotional expressions from their mothers than in boys. These results have important theoretical and practical implications for reducing the adverse effect of maternal autistic traits on children's anxiety, especially for girls. The present study also reveals that maternal negative emotional expression is an important mechanism. Causal conclusions cannot be drawn based on cross-sectional research design, so it is necessary to conduct longitudinal studies in the future.

Descriptive Analysis of Social Interaction and Communication Skills of Autistic Children According to Sibling Status and Characteristics.

Sibling relationships in early childhood can have a positive impact on children's social interaction and communication skills. Similarly, autistic children can benefit from interactions with their siblings, who can serve as readily available partners for social interaction. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of siblings based on specific characteristics of the sibling. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare social interactions and communication skills of autistic children based on sibling status and characteristics. We conducted a retrospective data review involving 895 autistic children and their siblings at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Variety of diagnostic assessments or questionnaires were administered. Based on the characteristics of the data, Quade's test for nonparametric analysis of covariance was used to compare autism-related symptoms and levels of functioning of the autistic child according to 1) sibling status, 2) birth order, 3) sex, and 4) diagnosis of the sibling. Pearson correlation was used to explore associations between the sibling age gap and different clinical scores. Having siblings was associated with fewer difficulties in restricted and repetitive behaviors. Based on the comparison of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised scores, autistic children with multiple siblings demonstrated better nonverbal behaviors. Autistic children with autistic siblings experienced greater difficulties in social interactions and communications, such as peer relationships, sharing enjoyment, and engaging in social imitative play. The study revealed differences in social interactions and communication skills of autistic children based on sibling status, birth order, affected sibling, age gap, and sex.

Factors associated with receptive and expressive language in autistic children and siblings: A systematic review.

Language abilities of autistic children and children at elevated likelihood for autism (EL-siblings) are highly heterogeneous, and many of them develop language deficits. It is as of yet unclear why language abilities of autistic children and EL-siblings vary, although an interaction of multiple influential factors is likely at play. In this review, we describe research articles that identify one or multiple of such factors associated with the receptive or expressive language abilities of autistic children and EL-siblings since the introduction of the DSM-5. Our aim was to identify and summarize factors that are linked to language development in autistic children and siblings in the recent literature to ultimately gain insight into the heterogeneity of language abilities in these children. The search strategy of this review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The following databases were consulted: Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria for studies were the presence of a sample of autistic children no older than 7 years old who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder per the criteria of the DSM-5. Intervention studies and studies without an explicitly reported language measure were excluded. Risk of bias assessment was completed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scales. Ultimately, 55 articles were included in this review. Fifty-six factors were identified to be related to receptive or expressive language abilities of autistic children and EL-siblings. They were grouped into three main categories: biological factors; psychosocial and environmental factors; and age-related and developmental factors, each with different subcategories. Although many of the identified variables were only examined in one article, some well-researched associated factors were reported across multiple studies and were present in both autistic children and EL-siblings, in particular joint attention, nonverbal cognitive abilities and frontal EEG power. Better insight in these factors associated with language abilities in autistic children and siblings at elevated likelihood can inform future intervention strategies to reduce language deficits and its corresponding negative consequences in these children. Our results confirm that multiple different factors likely underlie language deficits in autism. Important aspects that should be considered are, among others, social factors such as joint attention, child characteristics such as nonverbal cognition, and neurocognitive factors.

Neural correlates of face processing among preschoolers with fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, autism siblings, and typical development.

The current study examined patterns of event-related potential (ERP) responses during a face processing task in groups of preschoolers uniquely impacted by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including (1) children with ASD; (2) children with fragile X syndrome (FXS); (3) children with familial risk for ASD, but without a diagnosis (i.e., ASIBs); and (4) a low-risk control (LRC) group. Children with FXS have a high incidence of ASD diagnoses, but there have been no studies of the ERP response to faces in children with FXS and little work focused on children with ASD who have cognitive impairment. The current study examined children's ERP responses to faces and houses in four groups: LRC (N = 28, age = 5.2 years), ASIB (N = 23, age = 5.5 years), FXS (N = 19, age = 5.82 years), and ASD (N = 23, age = 5.5 years). The FXS and ASD groups were characterized by the presence of cognitive impairment. Pictures of upright and inverted faces and houses were presented while recording EEG with a 128-channel system. The N170 occurred at about 200 ms post stimulus onset, was largest on the posterior-lateral electrodes, and was larger for faces than houses. The P1 and N170 ERP components were larger for the FXS group than for the other three groups. The N170 ERP amplitude for the ASD and ASIB groups was smaller than both the LRC and FXS groups, and the LRC and FXS groups had the largest N170 responses on the right side. No difference was found in N170 latency between groups. The similarity of the ASD and ASIB responses suggest a common genetic or environmental origin of the reduced response. Although children with FXS have a high incidence of ASD outcomes, they differed from ASD and ASIB children in this study. Specifically, the children with FXS were hyperresponsive to all stimulus types while the ASD and ASIB groups showed attenuated responses for specific stimuli.

The Stability and Validity of Automated Indices of Vocal Development in Infants With Autistic and Non-Autistic Siblings.

This study evaluates the extent to which automated indices of vocal development are stable and valid for predicting language in infants at increased familial likelihood for autism and/or language impairment and relatively lower likelihood infants. A group of infants with autistic siblings (Sibs-autism; 20 infants) and a comparison group of infants with non-autistic siblings (Sibs-NA; 20 infants) wore Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) recording devices for 16 hr on 2 days within a 1-week period. Extant software was used to derive several putative indices of vocal development from these recordings. Stability of these variables was examined across and within groups. Expressive and receptive language aggregates were calculated for each participant. Multiple regression analyses were used to (a) evaluate zero-order correlations for variables derived from LENA recordings with concurrent and future language and (b) test whether those associations were moderated by group status. Both stability and validity differed by variable and group status. All variables reached acceptable stability in the Sibs-autism group within two to three observations, whereas stability of most variables was attenuated in the Sibs-NA group. No variables were associated with concurrent language in the theoretically motivated direction across groups, but two variables were strongly associated with concurrent expressive language in only the Sibs-NA group. Additionally, two variables were associated with later expressive language, though these correlations were again stronger in the Sibs-NA versus Sibs-autism group. Although selected automated indices of vocal development were stable in Sibs-autism and/or valid for predicting expressive language within Sibs-NA, no scores showed strong, theoretically motivated associations with language within the Sibs-autism group. Automated indices of vocal development may, thus, have limited validity or clinical utility for predicting language development in infants at elevated familial likelihood for autism. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24415735.

Heterogeneity of autism symptoms in community-referred infants and toddlers at elevated or low familial likelihood of autism.

Evidence suggests autistic individuals at elevated familial likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (by virtue of having an autistic sibling) have stronger cognitive abilities on average than autistic individuals with no family history of the condition, who have a low familial likelihood of autism. Investigating phenotypic differences between community-referred infants and toddlers with autism symptoms at elevated or low familial likelihood of autism may provide important insight into heterogeneity in the emerging autism phenotype. This study compared behavioral, cognitive, and language abilities of community-referred infants and toddlers with confirmed autism symptoms at elevated (EL) or low familial likelihood of autism (LL). Participants were 121 children aged 12 to 36 months who participated in two larger randomized trials of parent-mediated interventions for children with autism symptoms. Behavioral phenotypes were compared across three groups: children with at least one autistic sibling (EL-Sibs, n = 30), those with at least one older, non-autistic sibling and no family history of autism (LL-Sibs, n = 40), and first-born children with no family history of autism (LL-FB, n = 51). EL-Sibs had less severe autism symptoms and stronger cognitive abilities than children in LL groups. While the rate of receptive language delay was similar across groups, the rate of expressive language delay was markedly lower among EL-Sibs. After controlling for age and nonverbal cognitive ability, EL-Sibs were significantly less likely to present with expressive language delay than LL-Sibs. Familial likelihood of autism may play an important role in shaping the emerging autism phenotype in infancy and toddlerhood.

A Comparison of Attitudes and Knowledge Towards Autism Based on Adult Sibling Experiences

Studies examining relationships between neurotypical and autistic siblings have reported inconsistent findings when focussing on children and adolescents, with little research investigating adult autistic sibling relationships. This is of particular interest as siblings can often take over the guardianship or care of a sibling when their parents are no longer able to. The current study examined knowledge and attitudes of adult siblings towards autism. 50 mixed sibling types (autistic sibling + neurotypical sibling) & 59 matched sibling types (neurotypical sibling + neurotypical sibling) completed knowledge and attitude questionnaires. In addition, a thematic analysis of responses provided by neurotypical siblings from the mixed sibling types was used to explore experiences with autism based on sibling relationships. Results showed a non-significant difference of attitudes towards autism and a significant difference in knowledge of autism. From the thematic analyses four themes were identified: Robbed Childhood, Sibling over Self, Concerns for the Future, and Autism Awareness. The study found that having a sibling diagnosed with autism can predict knowledge of autism, however, knowledge of autism does not drive attitudes, therefore further research is needed to understand which factors drive neurotypical sibling attitudes since attitudes predict behaviour. The qualitative research showed mixed experiences within childhood and adulthood, with implications on care in the future. The adult perspectives of the autistic sibling relationships are discussed.

0772 Associations of Sleep Duration and Maternal Postnatal Depression in Infants with Autistic Siblings

Abstract Introduction Evidence suggests sleep differences emerge in the first three years of life for autistic individuals (MacDuffie et al., 2020) and may be a possible endophenotype in unaffected siblings (Naeem et al., 2021). In neurotypical samples, postnatal depression has also emerged as a potential contributor to infant sleep challenges (Dias & Figueiredo, 2021). Questions remain on the associations between infant sleep duration, maternal postnatal depression, and family history of ASD as well as how these variables interact to predict future autistic traits. Methods Participants (N=74) were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study on early autistic traits and included infants with an autistic sibling (n=33, EL) and with no familial history of ASD (n=41, LL). At 6 months, caregivers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a 24-hour retrospective sleep log. At 12 months, clinicians administered a standardized observation of autistic traits (SORF) the includes scores related to deficits in social communication (SCD) and restrictive and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). Results At 6 months, EL infants spent significantly more time asleep during the day than LL infants, (t(45)=2.89, p<.01). There were not significant differences in nighttime sleep duration or EPDS scores between groups. In examining the influence of self-ratings of maternal depression and likelihood status on sleep duration, the model was significant for daytime sleep (F(2, 36)=4.27, p=.02), but not nighttime sleep. Likelihood status, not EPDS score, predicted more hours spent asleep in the daytime. When assessing the role of status and sleep-related variables on future autistic traits, only decreased nighttime sleep duration at 6 months was related to greater RRBs at 12 months (F(3, 10)=15.26, p=.02), regardless of likelihood status. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that EL infants may sleep more in the daytime at 6 months. Reduced nighttime sleep at 6 months possibly signal future autistic traits, regardless of likelihood status. Future research should examine actigraphy data and its relationship to the etiology of ASD in larger samples. Support (if any) Funded by K23-MH120476, R21-DC071252, and T32GM081740.

Candidate biomarkers from the integration of methylation and gene expression in discordant autistic sibling pairs

While the genetics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been intensively studied, resulting in the identification of over 100 putative risk genes, the epigenetics of ASD has received less attention, and results have been inconsistent across studies. We aimed to investigate the contribution of DNA methylation (DNAm) to the risk of ASD and identify candidate biomarkers arising from the interaction of epigenetic mechanisms with genotype, gene expression, and cellular proportions. We performed DNAm differential analysis using whole blood samples from 75 discordant sibling pairs of the Italian Autism Network collection and estimated their cellular composition. We studied the correlation between DNAm and gene expression accounting for the potential effects of different genotypes on DNAm. We showed that the proportion of NK cells was significantly reduced in ASD siblings suggesting an imbalance in their immune system. We identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) involved in neurogenesis and synaptic organization. Among candidate loci for ASD, we detected a DMR mapping to CLEC11A (neighboring SHANK1) where DNAm and gene expression were significantly and negatively correlated, independently from genotype effects. As reported in previous studies, we confirmed the involvement of immune functions in the pathophysiology of ASD. Notwithstanding the complexity of the disorder, suitable biomarkers such as CLEC11A and its neighbor SHANK1 can be discovered using integrative analyses even with peripheral tissues.

Toward the detection of reduced emotion expression intensity: an autism sibling study

ABSTRACT Introduction Expressing emotions through spontaneous facial expression is an important nonverbal social communication skill. In our study, we aimed to demonstrate that both children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the non-ASD siblings of children with ASD have deficits in this skill. Method In this study, we analyzed the six core facial emotion expressions of three distinct groups of children – those diagnosed with ASD (n = 60), non-ASD siblings (n = 60), and typically developed children (n = 60). To analyze facial expressions, we employed a computer vision program that uses machine learning algorithms to detect facial features and conducted an evidence-based task that involved assessing participants’ ability to recognize facial emotion expressions. Results Deficits in spontaneous emotion expression were shown in the children with ASD and in non-ASD siblings when compared with typically developed children. Interestingly, it was determined that these deficits were not related to the severity of the autism symptoms in the ASD group. Conclusions The results of the study suggest that computer-based automated analysis of facial expressions with contextual social scenes task holds potential for measuring limitations in the ability to express emotions, and they supplement the traditional clinical assessment of social phenotypical behavior deficits. This applies both to children with ASD and especially, to the non-ASD siblings of children with ASD. This study adds a novel approach to previous literature examining the emotion expression skills.

Fine motor skill and expressive language in minimally verbal and verbal school-aged autistic children.

Fine motor skill is associated with expressive language outcomes in infants who have an autistic sibling and in young autistic children. Fewer studies have focused on school-aged children even though around 80% have motor impairments and 30% remain minimally verbal (MV) into their school years. Moreover, expressive language is not a unitary construct, but it is made up of components such as speech production, structural language, and social-pragmatic language use. We used natural language sampling to investigate the relationship between fine motor and speech intelligibility, mean length of utterance and conversational turns in MV and verbal autistic children between the ages of 4 and 7 while controlling for age and adaptive behavior. Fine motor skill predicted speech production, measured by percent intelligible utterances. Fine motor skill and adaptive behavior predicted structural language, measured by mean length of utterance in morphemes. Adaptive behavior, but not fine motor skill, predicted social-pragmatic language use measured by number of conversational turns. Simple linear regressions by group corrected for multiple comparisons showed that fine motor skill predicted intelligibility for MV but not verbal children. Fine motor skill and adaptive behavior predicted mean length of utterance for both MV and verbal children. These findings suggest that future studies should explore whether MV children may benefit from interventions targeting fine motor along with speech and language into their school years.

Associations Between Caregiver Stress and Language Outcomes in Infants With Autistic and Non-Autistic Siblings: An Exploratory Study.

Caregivers of autistic children present with high stress levels, which have been associated with poorer child outcomes in several domains, including language development. However, prior to this study, it was unknown whether elevated caregiver stress was associated with language development in infant siblings of autistic children (Sibs-autism), who are at increased likelihood of receiving a future diagnosis of autism and/or language impairment compared to infant siblings of non-autistic children. This study explored the degree to which, as well as the mechanisms by which, caregiver stress was linked with later language outcomes of Sibs-autism and infant siblings of non-autistic children (Sibs-NA). Participants were 50 infants (28 Sibs-autism; 22 Sibs-NA) aged 12-18 months at the first time point in this study (Time 1). Infants were seen again 9 months later, at 21-27 months of age (Time 2). Caregiver stress was measured via a validated self-report measure at Time 1. Caregiver language input, the putative mechanism by which caregiver stress may influence later language outcomes, was collected via two daylong recordings from digital recording (Language ENvironment Analysis) devices worn by the child at this same time point. Child language outcomes were measured via standardized and caregiver report measures at Time 2. Several models testing hypothesized indirect effects of caregiver stress on later child language outcomes through caregiver language input were statistically significant. Specifically, significant indirect effects suggest that (a) caregivers with increased stress tend to speak less to their infants, and (b) this reduced language input tends to covary with reduced child language outcomes later in life for Sibs-autism and Sibs-NA. This study provides new insights into links between caregiver stress, caregiver language input, and language outcomes in Sibs-autism and Sibs-NA. Further work is necessary to understand how to best support caregivers and optimize the language learning environments for infants. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21714368.

Longitudinal Relations Between Early Sensory Responsiveness and Later Communication in Infants with Autistic and Non-autistic Siblings.

Early differences in sensory responsiveness may contribute to difficulties with communication among autistic children; however, this theory has not been longitudinally assessed in infants at increased familial versus general population-level likelihood for autism (Sibs-autism vs. Sibs-NA) using a comprehensive battery of sensory responsiveness and communication. In a sample of 40 infants (20 Sibs-autism, of whom six were later diagnosed with autism; 20 Sibs-NA), we tested (a) associations between sensory responsiveness at 12-18months and communication 9months later and (b) evaluated whether such associations were moderated by sibling group, autism diagnosis, or age. We found negative zero-order correlations between sensory responsiveness (i.e., caregiver reported hyperresponsiveness and hyporesponsiveness; an observational measure of hyperresponsiveness) and later communication. Additionally, caregiver reported sensory seeking was negatively associated with later expressive communication only in Sibs-NA. Limitations include our relatively small sample size of infants diagnosed with autism. Implications for future research are discussed.