German scientists from the Max Planck Institute have found that difficulties in children learning to speak at an early age may be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Biological Psychiatry (BioPsy).
Children usually start saying their first words between 10 and 15 months. By about two years of age, they can speak 100 to 600 words and understand much more.
Each child follows his or her own developmental path in language learning, resulting in wide individual differences.
To understand how genetics play a role in children’s development of word production and comprehension, the team conducted a genome-wide meta-analysis of the vocabulary size of infants (15-18 months) and toddlers (24-38 months).
The team used vocabulary and genetic data from 17,298 children who spoke English, Danish or Dutch.
Researchers have identified many genetic factors that determine vocabulary during infancy and childhood.
The team found that more words spoken during infancy are genetically associated with both an increased risk of developing ADHD and more ADHD symptoms.
But in childhood, this genetic relationship changed: Fewer comprehensible words were associated with more ADHD symptoms.
The researchers also noted that children with a higher genetic risk for ADHD tend to express themselves better.
Previous scientists I learnedThe presence of ADHD in ancient humans made them better researchers.
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Source: Gazeta
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