Développement du langage communicatif chez les autistes qui ont expérimenté une régression langagière en bas âge
Early language regression (ELR) is observed by 10 to 50% of autistic children parents but its relevance on the development of language and socio-communicative skills is uncertain. This master's thesis aims to establish the effect of ELR on the progression of language development and socio-communicative outcomes. It also aims to highlight the atypical communicative features that accompany the language development of autistic children with ELR. Retrospective data from 2 047 unrelated autistic children aged from 4 to 18 years were extracted from the Simons Simplex Collection. Language progression following ELR was quantified and the probability of achieving fluent speech modelled by logistic regression. Atypical communicative features associated with a history of ELR were identified and grouped. Linear models were used to evaluate the relationship of ELR, non- verbal IQ and the combination of atypical communicative features with language and socio-communicative levels. ELR is associated with faster language onset but later attainment of speech fluency. The probability of reaching fluent speech is mostly influenced by non-verbal IQ, the effect of which is not modulated by ELR. Autistic children with ELR present a speech development, which starts early, followed by a plateau and a final phase of catch up. The latter is associated with a group of atypical communicative features that may represent a core language development profile in autism.
Hétérogénéité Autism Speech Language Heterogeneity