School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Oller and Gipson collaborate in study of language development in children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)
by Anne Adams
from UTHSC and , Professor in the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders are collaborating
on a project to study the language development of children with tuberous sclerosis
complex (TSC). Their research is funded by the National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders, a division of the National Institutes of Health.
鈥淩oughly 50% of kids with TSC or Fragile X syndrome get an [autism] diagnosis,鈥� Dr.
Oller explained. 鈥淓ven though most autism is not syndromic,鈥� Dr. Oller added, 鈥渋t
turns out that two syndromes [TSC and Fragile X] account for the great majority of
all cases of genetically determined autism.鈥� Children with TSC diagnosed with autism
have many typical characteristics of autism, including challenges with social communication,
expressive language, and anxiety (Gipson et al., 2015). Some TSC symptoms, including
seizures, are managed with pharmacological interventions. Speech-language pathologists
can provide appropriate interventions to address communication and language deficits
for these patients.
Dr. Gipson and Dr. Oller鈥檚 research study is designed to fill a serious gap in the
research on the language development of children with TSC. Dr. Oller explained, "There
has never been any significant, detailed longitudinal study on language development
in TSC. Everything that is available is based on standardized tests that have no longitudinal
language sampling, vocal development, or speech perception testing.
Dr. Gipson will be collaborating with the Origin of Language Laboratory (OLL) throughout
the work. We鈥檒l be doing longitudinal research on vocal development on infants and
young children in the OLL and also in a laboratory that is being developed at UTHSC/Le
Bonheur. In addition, there will be research on early vocabulary learning using techniques
supervised by our colleagues at the University of Miami (Lynn Perry and Daniel Messinger).鈥�
This collaboration has exciting potential. Both researchers are 蜜桃导航-based and
bring valuable experience from their respective areas of expertise. Dr. Oller, who
holds the Chair of Excellence in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders,
is an internationally respected researcher of infant vocal development as well as
ASD. 鈥淒r. Gipson is a world expert on TSC, directing one of the world鈥檚 largest clinics,
right here in 蜜桃导航 (at Le Bonheur), so we have the opportunity to unite clinical
and research capabilities at a very high level,鈥� Dr. Oller said. Dr. Gipson practices
pediatric neurology at Le Bonheur Children鈥檚 Hospital, where she directs the TSC-Associated
Neuropsychiatric Disorders Clinic and is on the faculty at the UT College of Medicine.
The two researchers have already published a paper together in . This paper, titled 鈥淓arly Vocal Development in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex鈥� (2021), investigated volubility (amount of speech-like vocalization) and onset of canonical babbling in infants with TSC. The study found that the canonical babbling stage was delayed in most children with TSC, and volubility was lower than half the rate of typically developing infants. Given the importance of canonical babbling as a marker for developing language, their findings can facilitate early identification of language problems and inform the timing and type of interventions for children with TSC.
Dr. Oller and Dr. Gipson will continue their research partnership over the next several years. 鈥淲e have five years of funding to pursue research on language in infants with TSC, both with and without an autism diagnosis.鈥�
References:
Gipson, T., Ramsay, G., Ellison, E., Bene, E. R., Long, H. L., and Oller, D. K. (2021).
Early Vocal Development in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Pediatric Neurology. 125, 48-52.