Abstract
Young boys with autism were compared to typically developing boys on responses to nonsocial and child-directed speech (CDS)
stimuli. Behavioral (looking) and physiological (heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia) measures were collected. Boys
with autism looked equally as much as chronological age-matched peers at nonsocial stimuli, but less at CDS stimuli. Boys
with autism and language age-matched peers differed in patterns of looking at live versus videotaped CDS stimuli. Boys with
autism demonstrated faster heart rates than chronological age-matched peers, but did not differ significantly on respiratory
sinus arrhythmia. Reduced attention during CDS may restrict language-learning opportunities for children with autism. The
heart rate findings suggest that young children with autism have a nonspecific elevated arousal level.
stimuli. Behavioral (looking) and physiological (heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia) measures were collected. Boys
with autism looked equally as much as chronological age-matched peers at nonsocial stimuli, but less at CDS stimuli. Boys
with autism and language age-matched peers differed in patterns of looking at live versus videotaped CDS stimuli. Boys with
autism demonstrated faster heart rates than chronological age-matched peers, but did not differ significantly on respiratory
sinus arrhythmia. Reduced attention during CDS may restrict language-learning opportunities for children with autism. The
heart rate findings suggest that young children with autism have a nonspecific elevated arousal level.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-011-1401-z
- Authors
- Linda R. Watson, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, CB# 7190, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7190, USA
- Jane E. Roberts, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, CB #8180, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8180, USA
- Grace T. Baranek, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, CB #7120, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7120, USA
- Kerry C. Mandulak, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, CB# 7190, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7190, USA
- Jennifer C. Dalton, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, CB# 7190, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7190, USA
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257