The value of diffusion tensor imaging for differentiating autism spectrum disorder with language delay from developmental language disorder among toddlers

BACKGROUND: Impaired language function is frequently observed as an initial sign in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, clinically, the early stages of ASD are difficult to distinguish from those of developmental language disorder (DLD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters for language-related white matter tracts (arcuate fasciculus) to differentiate ASD from DLD among toddlers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 16 ASD toddlers with language delay and 18 DLD toddlers in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging sequences included T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), T1 3-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (3D MP-RAGE), and DTI. Tractography was performed using Neuro 3D in the Siemens Syngo Workstation, and fractional anisotropy (FA), average fiber length (AFL), tract volume (TV), and number of voxels (NV) were automatically calculated. Data were then analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22. RESULTS: The ASD group exhibited significantly lower FA values, as well as significantly higher TV and NV values compared with the DLD group. With age as the covariate, analysis of covariance revealed different significances in TV and NV. Analysis of variance for AFL revealed no significant differences between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: DTI parameters of arcuate fasciculus were useful for differentiating ASD with language delay from DLD among toddlers. DTI has the potential to provide an objective and effective method for aiding early diagnosis, early intervention and improving long-term outcomes of ASD.