The Relation Between Early Joint Attention Responding and Later Theory of Mind in Younger Siblings of Children with Autism

Abstract

A link between early responding to joint attention (RJA) and later theory of mind (ToM) has been found in typically developing children but has not been examined in children at risk for autism. RJA at age 12 months was compared to ToM at age 60 months in younger siblings of children with ASD (SIBS-ASD) and younger siblings of typically developing children (SIBS-TD). Early RJA was found to be significantly correlated with ToM in SIBS-ASD when receptive language ability was controlled. A significant group difference on ToM between SIBS-ASD and SIBS-TD was also found when controlling for receptive language.