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Cognitive and Verbal Abilities of 24- to 36-month-old Siblings of Children with Autism

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Abstract

The cognitive and language skills of 30 siblings of children with autism (SIBS-A) and 30 siblings of typically developing children (SIBS-TD) were compared. Non-significant group differences emerged for cognition at both ages. At 24 months, significantly more SIBS-A demonstrated language scores one or two standard deviations below the mean compared to SIBS-TD. At 36 months, the groups differed significantly in receptive language, and more SIBS-A displayed receptive and expressive difficulties compared to SIBS-TD. Six SIBS-A (including one diagnosed with autism) revealed language scores more than two standard deviations below the mean at both ages, a pattern not seen in the SIBS-TD. Results are discussed in reference to language difficulties in autism spectrum disorders and the genetic liability for autism.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), grant numbers 94-66/3 and 97-00073, awarded to the first and fourth authors. We are grateful to the participating families for their cooperation and to Dee B. Ankonina for her editorial assistance.

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Correspondence to Nurit Yirmiya.

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Yirmiya, N., Gamliel, I., Shaked, M. et al. Cognitive and Verbal Abilities of 24- to 36-month-old Siblings of Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 37, 218–229 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0163-5

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