Narrative discourse in adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome. 2008

Livia Colle, and Simon Baron-Cohen, and Sally Wheelwright, and Heather K J van der Lely
Department of Psychology, Centre of Cognitive Science, University of Turin, via Po 14, Turin, 10123, Italy. colle@psych.unito.it

We report a study comparing the narrative abilities of 12 adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger Syndrome (AS) versus 12 matched controls. The study focuses on the use of referential expressions (temporal expressions and anaphoric pronouns) during a story-telling task. The aim was to assess pragmatics skills in people with HFA/AS in whom linguistic impairments are more subtle than in classic autism. We predicted no significant differences in general narrative abilities between the two groups, but specific pragmatic deficits in people with AS. We predicted they use fewer personal pronouns, temporal expressions and referential expressions, which require theory of mind abilities. Results confirmed both predictions. These findings provide initial evidence of how social impairments can produce mild linguistic impairments.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
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
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
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012720 Severity of Illness Index Levels within a diagnostic group which are established by various measurement criteria applied to the seriousness of a patient's disorder. Illness Index Severities,Illness Index Severity
D014705 Verbal Behavior Includes both producing and responding to words, either written or spoken. Behavior, Verbal,Behaviors, Verbal,Verbal Behaviors
D014825 Vocabulary The sum or the stock of words used by a language, a group, or an individual. (From Webster, 3d ed) Vocabularies
D020817 Asperger Syndrome A disorder beginning in childhood whose essential features are persistent impairment in reciprocal social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. These symptoms may limit or impair everyday functioning. (From DSM-5) Asperger Disease,Asperger Disorder,Asperger's Disease,Asperger's Disorder,Asperger's Syndrome,Asperger Diseases,Asperger Disorders,Asperger's Diseases,Aspergers Disease,Aspergers Disorder,Aspergers Syndrome,Disease, Asperger,Disease, Asperger's,Diseases, Asperger,Diseases, Asperger's,Disorder, Asperger,Disorder, Asperger's,Disorders, Asperger,Syndrome, Asperger,Syndrome, Asperger's

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