Autism Research

Helen Tager-Flusberg has spent over three decades researching language and social cognitive development in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and this work is continuing today across several different research programs in the lab.

“I found your research staff caring and accommodating to meet our needs… we were warmly received and made to feel like we were all critical to the overall success of the program.”

- Parent of Study Particpant

 

One of the main goals of her research has been to define the language and communication impairments in ASD.  Delays and deficits in language development are among the fundemental features of autism but it is often hard to assess the receptive language skills of those individuals who never acquire functional speech. Our Language Studies place emphasis on the use of eye-movements as a new way of assessing what children understand and how they integrate what they hear with what they see.   See more>>

The Infant Sibling Project is a research study which aims to identify risk markers for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) or language delays that may be present during the first 12 months of life. Identifying high risk infants at this early stage would allow for early intervention to begin much sooner than is currently possible, greatly increasing the potential for such treatments to have a lasting, positive impact on children and their families.  To achieve these goals, we depend on area families who are willing to volunteer.  Click here to learn more about the study and how you can help.