A Concurrent Validity Study of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory (CDI) in Infants with an Elevated Likelihood or Diagnosis of Autism.

Researchers studied how well two different language tests work together in 720 babies at 14 months old. Some babies had higher chances of autism, others didn't. The tests showed similar but not identical results. Babies later diagnosed with autism at 3 years had lower language scores on both tests. The study suggests the two tests measure different parts of early language skills, which is important for parents to understand when their child is being assessed.

This study examined the relationship between two language assessment tools - the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) - in 720 14-month-old infants at varying autism risk levels. Researchers compared vocabulary scores across groups based on autism likelihood and later diagnosis at 36 months. Results showed moderate correlations between the tools (r=.34-.58), with stronger associations for expressive language in elevated-risk infants. Diagnosed infants scored lower on both measures compared to non-diagnosed peers.

The elevated likelihood group showed lower MSEL but not CDI scores compared to typical likelihood infants. The moderate correlations suggest these tools assess different aspects of early language development.

Clinicians should understand that MSEL and CDI assess different aspects of early language development. Both tools can identify language differences in infants who will later receive autism diagnoses, but they may show varying sensitivity to autism risk. Multiple assessment approaches may provide more comprehensive evaluation of early language skills in at-risk populations.

The abstract does not specify study methodology or provide details about participant characteristics beyond age and sample size. The correlations observed were weaker than previously reported in autistic children, and the reasons for differences between the two assessment tools require further investigation.

Infants at elevated likelihood for or later diagnosed with autism typically have smaller vocabularies than their peers, as shown by the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory (CDI). However, the extent to which MSEL and CDI scores align remains unclear, especially across clinical and non-clinical populations. This study examined whether the concurrent validity of the MSEL and CDI differs based on autism likelihood and diagnosis. Data from 720 14-month-old infants were analysed, grouped by likelihood (elevated vs. typical) and diagnosis at 36 months (diagnosed vs. not diagnosed).

Vocabulary scores were compared across both likelihood and diagnostic groups. Moderate correlations were observed between the MSEL and CDI in most groups (rrange = [.34-.58]). One exception was that the expressive scores of elevated likelihood infants on the MSEL and CDI were more closely associated than the expressive scores of typical likelihood infants. Diagnosed infants had lower vocabulary scores than non-diagnosed peers on both the MSEL and CDI.

The elevated likelihood group showed lower scores on the MSEL but not the CDI compared to typical likelihood infants. The moderate correlations suggest that the MSEL and CDI assess different aspects of language in infancy. These associations were weaker than previously reported in autistic children. Differences in vocabulary scores across likelihood and diagnostic groups highlight the need for further research to understand the association between these measures.