To improve early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we need objective, reliable, and accessible measures. To that end, a previous study demonstrated that a tablet‐based application (app) that assessed several autism risk behaviors distinguished between toddlers with ASD and non‐ASD toddlers. Using vocal data collected during this study, we investigated whether vocalizations uttered during administration of this app can distinguish among toddlers aged 16–31 months with typical development (TD), language or developmental delay (DLD), and ASD. Participant's visual and vocal responses were recorded using the camera and microphone in a tablet while toddlers watched movies designed to elicit behaviors associated with risk for ASD. Vocalizations were then coded offline. Results showed that (a) children with ASD and DLD were less likely to produce words during app administration than TD participants; (b) the ratio of syllabic vocalizations to all vocalizations was higher among TD than ASD or DLD participants; and (c) the rates of nonsyllabic vocalizations were higher in the ASD group than in either the TD or DLD groups. Those producing more nonsyllabic vocalizations were 24 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD. These results lend support to previous findings that early vocalizations might be useful in identifying risk for ASD in toddlers and demonstrate the feasibility of using a scalable tablet‐based app for assessing vocalizations in the context of a routine pediatric visit.

中文翻译：

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自闭症谱系障碍幼儿发声的六分钟测量。

为了提高对自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 的早期识别，我们需要客观、可靠和可及的措施。为此，之前的一项研究表明，评估几种自闭症风险行为的基于平板电脑的应用程序 (app) 可以区分患有 ASD 的幼儿和非 ASD 幼儿。使用在本研究中收集的声音数据，我们调查了在使用此应用程序期间发出的声音是否可以区分 16-31 个月具有典型发育 (TD)、语言或发育迟缓 (DLD) 和 ASD 的幼儿。当幼儿观看旨在引发与 ASD 风险相关的行为的电影时，参与者的视觉和声音反应是使用平板电脑中的相机和麦克风记录的。然后对发声进行离线编码。结果表明，(a) 与 TD 参与者相比，(a) 患有 ASD 和 DLD 的儿童在应用程序管理过程中不太可能产生单词；(b) TD 中音节发声与所有发声的比率高于 ASD 或 DLD 参与者；(c) ASD 组的非音节发声率高于 TD 或 DLD 组。那些产生更多非音节发声的人被诊断为 ASD 的可能性是其他人的 24 倍。这些结果支持先前的研究结果，即早期发声可能有助于识别幼儿 ASD 的风险，并证明使用可扩展的基于平板电脑的应用程序在常规儿科就诊中评估发声的可行性。(b) TD 中音节发声与所有发声的比率高于 ASD 或 DLD 参与者；(c) ASD 组的非音节发声率高于 TD 或 DLD 组。那些产生更多非音节发声的人被诊断为 ASD 的可能性是其他人的 24 倍。这些结果支持先前的研究结果，即早期发声可能有助于识别幼儿 ASD 的风险，并证明使用可扩展的基于平板电脑的应用程序在常规儿科就诊中评估发声的可行性。(b) TD 中音节发声与所有发声的比率高于 ASD 或 DLD 参与者；(c) ASD 组的非音节发声率高于 TD 或 DLD 组。那些产生更多非音节发声的人被诊断为 ASD 的可能性是其他人的 24 倍。这些结果支持先前的研究结果，即早期发声可能有助于识别幼儿 ASD 的风险，并证明使用可扩展的基于平板电脑的应用程序在常规儿科就诊中评估发声的可行性。