Abstract
Language-impaired individuals with autism perform poorly on tests such as non-word repetition that are sensitive clinical
markers of specific language impairment (SLI). This has fuelled the theory that language impairment in autism represents a
co-morbid SLI. However, the underlying cause of these deficits may be different in each disorder. In a novel task, we manipulated
non-word stimuli in three ways known to influence the repetition accuracy of children with SLI. Participants with SLI were
affected differently by these manipulations to children with autism. Children with autism performed similarly to language-matched
typical children in terms of levels and patterns of performance, and types of error made, suggesting that the underlying cognitive
cause of non-word repetition deficits is different in each disorder.
markers of specific language impairment (SLI). This has fuelled the theory that language impairment in autism represents a
co-morbid SLI. However, the underlying cause of these deficits may be different in each disorder. In a novel task, we manipulated
non-word stimuli in three ways known to influence the repetition accuracy of children with SLI. Participants with SLI were
affected differently by these manipulations to children with autism. Children with autism performed similarly to language-matched
typical children in terms of levels and patterns of performance, and types of error made, suggesting that the underlying cognitive
cause of non-word repetition deficits is different in each disorder.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1579-8
- Authors
- David Williams, Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE UK
- Heather Payne, Department of Language and Communication Science, City University, London, EC1V 0HB UK
- Chloë Marshall, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Institute of Education, University of London, 25 Woburn Square, London, WC1H 0AA UK
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257