Our new article was published in the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. Our study focused on understanding the early childhood communication profile of children with the FMR1 premutation. This genetic variant is known to lead to social communication difficulties in adulthood, but its impact during childhood is less understood. The research aimed to characterize these communication traits in children aged 2-4 years with the FMR1 premutation compared to typically developing peers.

Using standardized assessments like the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II, along with observational methods (Brief Observation of Social Communication Change), the study found that children with the FMR1 premutation exhibit delayed social communication development compared to their peers. However, they did not differ significantly in standardized measures of language and adaptive communication.

The findings suggest that early screening and intervention targeting social communication delays could significantly improve outcomes for children with the FMR1 premutation. Future research is needed to confirm these results in larger samples, understand the lifelong impact of social communication difficulties in these individuals, and explore the broader implications of the premutation in developmental communication differences within the general population.

To read the article in full, use this link!