Baby talk could help spot autism years before symptoms begin, according to new research. Parents often use playful, emotional, exaggerated tones - dubbed 'motherese' - to capture a child's attention.
Now a study has found it opens the door to identifying behavioural problems when therapy works best. Eye-tracking tests showed those who did not respond had weaker social and language abilities.
Corresponding author Professor Karen Pierce, of California University in San Diego, said: "We know the earlier we can introduce treatment, the more effective it is likely to be. But most children don't get a formal diagnosis until around the age of three or four.
