The use of two language tests to identify pragmatic language problems in children with autism spectrum disorders. 2005

Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. edna_young@URMC.Rochester.edu

OBJECTIVE Pragmatic language disorders (PLDs) are difficult to diagnose in a cost-effective manner, and there are few assessment tools that yield quantitative data. This investigation was designed to determine whether two formal assessment tools would differentiate PLDs in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) from controls matched on verbal IQ and language fundamentals. METHODS Thirty-four matched participants were given the Test of Pragmatic Language (TOPL; D. Phelps-Terasaki & T. Phelps-Gunn, 1992) and the Strong Narrative Assessment Procedure (SNAP; C. J. Strong, 1998). RESULTS Participants with ASDs had significantly poorer scores than controls on the TOPL. On the SNAP, the children with ASDs performed similarly to controls on syntax, cohesion, story grammar, and completeness of episodes. The controls performed significantly better only on the ability to answer inferential questions. CONCLUSIONS The TOPL was effective in differentiating PLDs in children with ASDs when performance was compared tomatched controls. The SNAP did not clearly differentiatelanguage problems in these two groups. Research is needed to develop formal assessment tools that target the unique language disabilities of high-functioning individuals with ASDs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007360 Intelligence The ability to learn and to deal with new situations and to deal effectively with tasks involving abstractions.
D007804 Language Development The gradual expansion in complexity and meaning of symbols and sounds as perceived and interpreted by the individual through a maturational and learning process. Stages in development include babbling, cooing, word imitation with cognition, and use of short sentences. Language Acquisition,Acquisition, Language,Development, Language
D007806 Language Disorders Conditions characterized by deficiencies of comprehension or expression of written and spoken forms of language. These include acquired and developmental disorders. Acquired Language Disorders,Language Disorders, Acquired,Acquired Language Disorder,Language Disorder,Language Disorder, Acquired
D007807 Language Tests Tests designed to assess language behavior and abilities. They include tests of vocabulary, comprehension, grammar and functional use of language, e.g., Development Sentence Scoring, Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Scale, Parsons Language Sample, Utah Test of Language Development, Michigan Language Inventory and Verbal Language Development Scale, Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities, Northwestern Syntax Screening Test, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Ammons Full-Range Picture Vocabulary Test, and Assessment of Children's Language Comprehension. Language Comprehension Tests,Vocabulary Tests,Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination,Boston Naming Test,Comprehensive Aphasia Test,Multilingual Aphasia Examination,Language Test
D008037 Linguistics The science of language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and historical linguistics. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Linguistic
D008297 Male Males
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

Related Publications

Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
January 2015, Journal of communication disorders,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
November 2007, American journal of speech-language pathology,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
January 2020, Applied neuropsychology. Child,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
July 2009, Brain : a journal of neurology,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
February 2014, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
December 2011, Journal of autism and developmental disorders,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
January 2015, International journal of language & communication disorders,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
January 2019, Frontiers in psychology,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
August 2010, American journal of speech-language pathology,
Edna Carter Young, and Joshua J Diehl, and Danielle Morris, and Susan L Hyman, and Loisa Bennetto
February 2006, Revista de neurologia,
Copied contents to your clipboard!