scholarly journals Temporal Synchrony Detection and Associations with Language in Young Children with ASD

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Patten ◽  
Linda R. Watson ◽  
Grace T. Baranek

Temporally synchronous audio-visual stimuli serve to recruit attention and enhance learning, including language learning in infants. Although few studies have examined this effect on children with autism, it appears that the ability to detect temporal synchrony between auditory and visual stimuli may be impaired, particularly given social-linguistic stimuli delivered via oral movement and spoken language pairings. However, children with autism can detect audio-visual synchrony given nonsocial stimuli (objects dropping and their corresponding sounds). We tested whether preschool children with autism could detect audio-visual synchrony given video recordings of linguistic stimuli paired with movement of related toys in the absence of faces. As a group, children with autism demonstrated the ability to detect audio-visual synchrony. Further, the amount of time they attended to the synchronous condition was positively correlated with receptive language. Findings suggest that object manipulations may enhance multisensory processing in linguistic contexts. Moreover, associations between synchrony detection and language development suggest that better processing of multisensory stimuli may guide and direct attention to communicative events thus enhancing linguistic development.

Author(s):  
Kate Broome ◽  
Patricia McCabe ◽  
Kimberley Docking ◽  
Maree Doble ◽  
Bronwyn Carrigg

Purpose This study aimed to provide detailed descriptive information about the speech of a heterogeneous cohort of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to explore whether subgroups exist based on this detailed speech data. High rates of delayed and disordered speech in both low-verbal and high-functioning children with ASD have been reported. There is limited information regarding the speech abilities of young children across a range of functional levels. Method Participants were 23 children aged 2;0–6;11 (years;months) with a diagnosis of ASD. Comprehensive speech and language assessments were administered. Independent and relational speech analyses were conducted from single-word naming tasks and spontaneous speech samples. Hierarchical clustering based on language, nonverbal communication, and spontaneous speech descriptive data was completed. Results Independent and relational speech analyses are reported. These variables are used in the cluster analyses, which identified three distinct subgroups: (a) children with high language and high speech ability ( n = 10), (b) children with low expressive language and low speech ability but higher receptive language and use of gestures ( n = 3), and (c) children with low language and low speech development ( n = 10). Conclusions This is the first study to provide detailed descriptive speech data of a heterogeneous cohort of children with ASD and use this information to statistically explore potential subgroups. Clustering suggests a small number of children present with low levels of speech and expressive language in the presence of better receptive language and gestures. This communication profile warrants further exploration. Replicating these findings with a larger cohort of children is needed. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.16906978


2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kacie Dunham ◽  
Jacob I. Feldman ◽  
Yupeng Liu ◽  
Margaret Cassidy ◽  
Julie G. Conrad ◽  
...  

Abstract Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display differences in multisensory function as quantified by several different measures. This study estimated the stability of variables derived from commonly used measures of multisensory function in school-aged children with ASD. Participants completed: a simultaneity judgment task for audiovisual speech, tasks designed to elicit the McGurk effect, listening-in-noise tasks, electroencephalographic recordings, and eye-tracking tasks. Results indicate the stability of indices derived from tasks tapping multisensory processing is variable. These findings have important implications for measurement in future research. Averaging scores across repeated observations will often be required to obtain acceptably stable estimates and, thus, to increase the likelihood of detecting effects of interest, as it relates to multisensory processing in children with ASD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1622-1634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Shield ◽  
Frances Cooley ◽  
Richard P. Meier

Purpose We present the first study of echolalia in deaf, signing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigate the nature and prevalence of sign echolalia in native-signing children with ASD, the relationship between sign echolalia and receptive language, and potential modality differences between sign and speech. Method Seventeen deaf children with ASD and 18 typically developing (TD) deaf children were video-recorded in a series of tasks. Data were coded for type of signs produced (spontaneous, elicited, echo, or nonecho repetition). Echoes were coded as pure or partial, and timing and reduplication of echoes were coded. Results Seven of the 17 deaf children with ASD produced signed echoes, but none of the TD deaf children did. The echoic children had significantly lower receptive language scores than did both the nonechoic children with ASD and the TD children. Modality differences also were found in terms of the directionality, timing, and reduplication of echoes. Conclusions Deaf children with ASD sometimes echo signs, just as hearing children with ASD sometimes echo words, and TD deaf children and those with ASD do so at similar stages of linguistic development, when comprehension is relatively low. The sign language modality might provide a powerful new framework for analyzing the purpose and function of echolalia in deaf children with ASD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte DiStefano ◽  
Connie Kasari

While a large number of preschool age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use no or little spoken language, only a portion will remain minimally verbal into elementary school. Determining whether a child is likely to remain minimally verbal past the preschool years is of great importance to families and clinicians, and can inform intervention efforts. Evidence from both behavioral and neuroimaging studies provide support for the idea that minimally verbal children with ASD have specific and unique expressive language deficits and are not simply at an earlier stage of language development. Intervention that focuses on pre-linguistic skills, such as joint attention, gestures, and vocalizations can be effective to increase language in pre- and minimally verbal children with ASD. The use of speech generating devices (SGD) has also been shown to support spoken language development in this population. Although many preschool aged children with ASD are using no or very little language, many of these children are in fact pre-verbal, and will continue to develop language skills. Targeted intervention, including a focus on pre-linguistic communication and SGD, will help support their language development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (38) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Rita Raudeliūnaitė ◽  
Eglė Steponėnienė

<p><em>Lithuanian educators are still not adequately well prepared to teach children with autism spectrum disorder (further in text ASD). There is a lack of research, the access to evidence-based methods is limited, and traditional educational methodological approaches are usually ineffective (Diržytė, Mikulėnaitė &amp; Kalvaitis, 2016; Buivydaitė, Newman &amp; Prasauskienė, 2017).</em></p><p><em>One of the earliest signs of ASD is failure to develop language and social communication (Mody &amp; Bellieveau, 2013; Arunachalam &amp; Luyster 2016; etc.). Meta-analyses conducted by foreign researchers show that B.F. Skinner’s (1957) verbal behaviour analysis is one of the evidence-based effective methods used for developing language in children with ASD (McPherson et al., 1984; Dymond et al. 2006; Sautter &amp; LeBlanc, 2006; Devine &amp; Petursdottir, 2017). A rapid increase in the prevalence of ASD brings the researchers’ attention to the possibilities of applying this method, however, there are still some areas in verbal behaviour approach remaining, which lack research. Scientific studies in these areas would likely open effective ways for developing language in children with ASD (Devine &amp; Petursdottir, 2017). The researchers (Buivydaitė, Newman &amp; Prasauskienė, 2017) have conducted a review of scientific articles on ASD in the Baltic states (including Lithuania), and the findings of it confirm the lack of such research. </em></p><p><em>In this study, a single-subject educational experiment was used, during which a joint stimulus control model was applied for developing language in children with ASD, with the main focus being on receptive language acquisition. The object of joint stimulus control is the development of a symmetrical (bi-directional) word-object relation and independent, verbally maintained generalisation with unlearned stimuli. The results of the experiment show that a joint stimulus control model can be applied as an effective mechanism to develop language in children with ASD. In the presence of non-verbal stimuli and rehearsing the names of the stimuli overtly or covertly, the joint stimulus control emerges and, in this way, the complex receptive language perception in children with ASD is developed within  the context of social interaction. </em><em></em></p><p><em>The participants of this experiment were able to emit correct responses with the novel sets of stimuli and were able to apply this mechanism without prompts not only in teaching sessions, but also in other social situations. </em><em></em></p><br /><p><em><br /></em></p><p><em>Lietuvos pedagogai vis dar nepasiruošę ugdyti autizmo spektro sutrikimų (toliau ASS) turinčius vaikus, trūksta tyrimų, moksliškai pagrįstų metodikų prieinamumas yra ribotas, o tradicinės metodinės prieigos dažnai būna neveiksmingos (Diržytė, Mikulėnaitė ir Kalvaitis, 2016; Buivydaitė, Newman ir Prasauskienė, 2017).</em></p><p><em>Vienas pagrindinių ASS požymių yra kalbos ir socialinės komunikacijos sutrikimas (Mody ir Bellieveau, 2013; Arunachalam ir Luyster 2016 ir kt.). Kaip rodo užsienio mokslininkų atliktos meta- analizės (McPherson et al., 1984; Dymond et a. 2006; Sautter ir LeBlanc, 2006; Devine ir Petursdottir, 2017), B.F. Skinerio verbalinio elgesio analizė (1957) yra viena iš empiriniais tyrimais pagrįstų veiksmingų ASS turinčių vaikų kalbos ugdymo metodikų. Didėjant ASS turinčių vaikų skaičiui, sparčiai auga mokslininkų susidomėjimas šios metodikos pritaikymo galimybėmis, tačiau vis dar lieka verbalinio elgesio analizės sričių, kurių ištirtumas atvertų efektyvius kelius į ASS turinčių vaikų kalbos ugdymą (Devine ir Petursdottir, 2017). Mokslininkų (Buivydaitė, Newman ir Prasauskienė, 2017) atlikta mokslinių straipsnių ASS tematika analizė Baltijos šalyse, tame tarpe ir Lietuvoje, patvirtina tyrimų stokos problemą. </em></p><p><em>Šiame straipsnyje aprašomas ugdomasis individualusis eksperimentas, kurio metu taikytas jungtinės stimulų kontrolės modelis ugdant ASS turinčių vaikų kalbą, pagrindinį dėmesį sutelkiant į kalbos suvokimo ugdymą. Jungtinės stimulų kontrolės </em><em>objektas yra simetrinio (abipusio) žodžio – objekto tarpusavio ryšio vystymas ir savarankiška, verbaliai palaikoma, generalizacija pritaikoma su nemokytais stimulais. </em><em>Eksperimentu nustatyta,  kad  jungtinės stimulų kontrolės modelis, gali būti efektyvus mechanizmas ugdant ASS </em><em>turinčių vaikų kalbinius gebėjimus. </em><em>Matant neverbalinių stimulų vaizdus ir kartojant jų pavadinimus balsu arba sau mintyse pasireiškia jungtinė stimulų kontrolė, ir tokiu būdu </em><em>ugdomas ASS vaikų kompleksinis receptyvusis suvokimas socialinio bendravimo kontekste.</em><em> Naudodamiesi šiuo įrankiu, eksperimento dalyviai  gebėjo teisingai atlikti užduotį su naujais stimulų rinkiniais ir </em><em>išmoko savarankiškai taikyti šio modelio mechanizmą ne tik mokymo(si), bet ir kitose socialinėse situacijose.</em></p>


2020 ◽  
pp. 016502542097104
Author(s):  
Yonat Rum ◽  
Ditza A. Zachor ◽  
Esther Dromi

This observational study focuses on prosocial behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during an interaction with their older, typically developing sibling (TD-Sibs). Twenty-eight sibling dyads, in which the younger sibling was diagnosed with ASD (ASD-Sibs), were video-recorded at home playing a game of their choice. Video recordings were microanalyzed, measuring frame-by-frame observational indices of prosocial behaviors. Siblings’ interactions were mostly collaborative. During the interaction, the older TD-Sibs initiated more actions and the younger ASD-Sibs imitated more. The frequency of the prosocial behaviors of the ASD-Sib was associated with the frequency of the TD-Sib’s prosocial behaviors. The findings emphasize the importance of sibling interactions as an opportunity for children with ASD to practice prosocial behaviors.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura W. Plexico ◽  
Julie E. Cleary ◽  
Ashlynn McAlpine ◽  
Allison M. Plumb

This descriptive study evaluates the speech disfluencies of 8 verbal children between 3 and 5 years of age with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Speech samples were collected for each child during standardized interactions. Percentage and types of disfluencies observed during speech samples are discussed. Although they did not have a clinical diagnosis of stuttering, all of the young children with ASD in this study produced disfluencies. In addition to stuttering-like disfluencies and other typical disfluencies, the children with ASD also produced atypical disfluencies, which usually are not observed in children with typically developing speech or developmental stuttering. (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005).


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Philofsky

AbstractRecent prevalence estimates for autism have been alarming as a function of the notable increase. Speech-language pathologists play a critical role in screening, assessment and intervention for children with autism. This article reviews signs that may be indicative of autism at different stages of language development, and discusses the importance of several psychometric properties—sensitivity and specificity—in utilizing screening measures for children with autism. Critical components of assessment for children with autism are reviewed. This article concludes with examples of intervention targets for children with ASD at various levels of language development.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lillian V. Pelios ◽  
Amy Sucharzewski

Author(s):  
Hafize Otcu Temur ◽  
Ismail Yurtsever ◽  
Gozde Yesil ◽  
Rasul Sharifov ◽  
Fatih Temel Yilmaz ◽  
...  

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder in which neurological basis is largely unknown. The Corpus Callosum (CC) is the main commissure that connects the cerebral hemispheres. Previous evidence suggests the involvement of the CC in the pathophysiology of autism. Aim: The aim of our study is to assess whether there were any changes in Corpus Callosum (CC) area and volume and to reveal the relationship between Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) features in genu and splenium of corpus callosum in children with ASD. Methods: Eighteen patient and 15 controls were recruited. The volumetric sagittal TI images were used to provide measurements of midsagittal corpus callosum surface area while FA, MD, RD, and ADC values were extracted from genu and splenium of corpus callosum after which the correlation in the area and volume in ASD children was examined. Results: CC area and volume in children with ASD were decreased than controls. FA values obtained from the genu and splenum of CC were significantly lower and RD values were significantly higher. A positive correlation was observed between the FA of the genu and splenium and area and volume of the CC. There was a negative correlation between ADC, MD and RD of CC and area and volume measurements. Conclusion: The conclusions in the interrelations of morphometric and DTI data may demonstrate a likelihood of damages in the axons and cortical neurons. The results showed that there existed microstructural damages from the DTI findings. Furthermore, the decrease in FA could be a representation of the reduction in the myelination in nerve pathways, impaired integrity, reduced axonal density, and organization. Indeed, the changes in volumetric and microstructural of CC could be useful in evaluating underlying pathophysiology in children with autism.


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