A new measure of child vocal reciprocity in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Children's vocal development occurs in the context of reciprocal exchanges with a communication partner who models "speechlike" productions. We propose a new measure of child vocal reciprocity, which we define as the degree to which an adult vocal response increases the probability of an immediately following child vocal response. Vocal reciprocity is likely to be associated with the speechlikeness of vocal communication in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Two studies were conducted to test the utility of the new measure. The first used simulated vocal samples with randomly sequenced child and adult vocalizations to test the accuracy of the proposed index of child vocal reciprocity. The second was an empirical study of 21 children with ASD who were preverbal or in the early stages of language development. Daylong vocal samples collected in the natural environment were computer analyzed to derive the proposed index of child vocal reciprocity, which was highly stable when derived from two daylong vocal samples and was associated with speechlikeness of vocal communication. This association was significant even when controlling for chance probability of child vocalizations to adult vocal responses, probability of adult vocalizations, or probability of child vocalizations. A valid measure of children's vocal reciprocity might eventually improve our ability to predict which children are on track to develop useful speech and/or are most likely to respond to language intervention. A link to a free, publicly-available software program to derive the new measure of child vocal reciprocity is provided. Autism Res 2018, 11: 903-915. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay summary: Children and adults often engage in back-and-forth vocal exchanges. The extent to which they do so is believed to support children's early speech and language development. Two studies tested a new measure of child vocal reciprocity using computer-generated and real-life vocal samples of young children with autism collected in natural settings. The results provide initial evidence of accuracy, test-retest reliability, and validity of the new measure of child vocal reciprocity. A sound measure of children's vocal reciprocity might improve our ability to predict which children are on track to develop useful speech and/or are most likely to respond to language intervention. A free, publicly-available software program and manuals are provided.

Keywords: LENA; autism; automated vocal analysis; preschool; preverbal; reciprocity; vocalizations.

Figure 1

2×2 contingency table used to tally three-event sequences of child and adult vocalizations. CV = child vocalization. AV = adult vocalization. The → symbol = followed by. Cells comprising the 2×2 table are highlighted. Cell labels (A, B, C, D) are italicized in the bottom center of each cell. Cell A represents the three-event sequence of special interest, wherein an initial child vocalization is followed by an adult production that is followed by a subsequent child vocalization, and is indicated here with an asterisk. Cell B represents a two-event sequence, wherein an initial child vocalization is followed by an adult production, but this is NOT followed by a subsequent child vocalization. Cell C represents a child vocalization that occurs in the absence of a preceding two-event sequence, wherein an initial child vocalization is followed by an adult production. Cell D represents instances wherein there is neither an initial child vocalization followed by an adult production nor a subsequent child vocalization.