Maternal Child-Directed Speech Toward Children With Infantile Spasm or West Syndrome.

What is already known on this subject Maternal child-directed speech (MCDS) varies across neurodevelopmental conditions. Prior research has documented this variability in children with language delay and developmental language disorder (DLD), including those with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What this paper adds to the existing knowledge To date, no studies have examined MCDS in the context of early-onset epilepsy during infancy, such as Infantile Spasms or West Syndrome (WS), leaving a critical gap in the literature. This study demonstrates that MCDS is shaped by (i) the neurological impact of WS, including alterations in social responsiveness that may occur independently of intellectual disability or ASD; (ii) the child's developmental abilities; and (iii) communicative features associated with ASD. These findings broaden our understanding of how maternal speech adapts to diverse, early-emerging neurodevelopmental disorders. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? This study highlights the complexity of mother-child communication in the context of WS and co-occurring conditions. The findings underscores the need for tailored clinical interventions that consider both caregiver input and the child's communicative and developmental profile. MCDS may potentially serve both as a sensitive indicator of developmental status and as a modifiable element of early intervention. Personalized approaches that build on the child's communicative strengths while addressing specific challenges may support improved language outcomes and broader cognitive development.