Autism and Communication

• Better ways to predict early in infancy if a child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder.
• Whether or not treatment interventions for at-risk infants can influence the development of speech perception and speech preferences.
• How infants with autism spectrum disorders “visually” scan their environment during their earliest social interactions and how this influences their development of language and communication skills.
• How genes and other potential factors predispose individuals to autism spectrum disorders.

Where can I get additional information?

Additional information from other centers and institutes at the NIH that participate in autism research is available at http://health.nih.gov/topic/Autism.

In addition, the NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations that provide information on the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. Please see the list of organizations at www.nidcd.nih.gov/directory.
Use the following keywords to help you search for organizations that can answer questions and provide printed or electronic information on autism:

• Autism
• Speech-language development
• Learning disabilities