Stability and Validity of an Automated Measure of Vocal Development From Day-Long Samples in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

摘要

Lay AbstractMeasuring the degree to which young children’s vocalizations, many of which are non-words, have acoustic characteristics similar to speech may eventually help us match expectations and treatment methods to individual needs and abilities. To accomplish this goal, we need vocal measures that have scientific utility. The current study indicates that a single all-day recording and subsequent computer-analysis of its acoustic characteristics produces a measure of vocal development that is highly related to expressive language in children with ASD and in children who are typically developing. These findings provide the needed basis for future use of this measure for clinical and scientific purposes.