Diagnostic Study | Level of attention to motherese speech as an early marker of autism spectrum disorder

Summary: A study was conducted to determine if levels of attention to motherese speech can be used as a diagnostic marker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and if they are associated with social and language abilities. The study involved 653 toddlers aged 12 to 48 months and used gaze-contingent eye tracking to measure attention to motherese speech. The results showed that toddlers without ASD had high levels of fixation on motherese speech, while those with ASD had significantly reduced levels. If a toddler fixated on motherese speech at or below 30%, the probability of them being accurately diagnosed with ASD was 94%, and it was also associated with reduced social and language abilities. The findings suggest that attention to motherese speech may be a diagnostic and prognostic marker of ASD.

(By ChatGPT, reviewed and edited)

Article: Level of Attention to Motherese Speech as an Early Marker of Autism Spectrum Disorder – JAMA Network Open

Commentaries:

Attention to motherese speech is a promising early diagnostic marker for autism spectrum disorder – News Medical

Toddlers’ Attention to ‘Motherese’ Could Give Clues to Autism – HealthDay