The spectrum of communication abilities in children with twelve rare neurodevelopmental disorders: A qualitative study with caregivers

Publication information:

Zigler, C., McFatrich, M., Lucas, N., Plyer, K., Zapata-Leiva, L., Gordon, K., Jones, H. N., Lin, L., Kern, J., Radar, A., Chen, D., Bergelson, E., Still, K., Hinger, B., Delagrammatikas, C. G., Poliquin, S., Short, B. P., Marfia-Ash, L., Stephens, K., … Reeve, B. B. (2025). The spectrum of communication abilities in children with twelve rare neurodevelopmental disorders: A qualitative study with caregivers. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Abstract

Background
Our aim was to update an existing model of communication ability for children with rare
neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) by centering caregiver and family perspectives. This project is part of a larger initiative to improve the measurement of communication ability for these children in the context of clinical trials.

Methods
We conducted concept elicitation interviews with purposively selected clinical experts and caregivers of children with twelve NDDs, focusing on a broad definition of communication ability based on the Observer-Reported Communication Ability (ORCA measure), which is inclusive of different communication modalities and covers expressive, receptive, and pragmatic communication concepts. Content-based and thematic analysis was performed on the qualitative data.

Results
Altogether, 115 interviews were conducted with caregivers across the twelve NDDs and with 9 clinicians. Commonly mentioned concepts across NDDs included requesting an object, refusing an object, responding to familiar directions, and seeking attention. There was notable heterogeneity within and across NDD groups in terms of the specific communication behaviors described for each communication concept. One common example was requesting; children used verbal speech, gestures, sign language, eye gaze, body movements, and augmentative and assistive communication to ask for what they wanted. Novel communication concepts identified that were not part of the existing model were (1) feelings, emotions, and bodily sensations, (2) commenting on likes and dislikes, and (3) communicating and understanding humor.

Conclusions
Caregivers offered a detailed and nuanced picture of their child’s day-to-day communication. There was a considerable overlap between the communication concepts discussed by caregivers in the interviews and the existing conceptual model of communication ability. Some newly identified concepts underscore the need for further adaptation of the model and subsequent validation of any clinical outcome assessment before communication ability can be confidently measured for these individuals in clinical trials.