title: Residual language deficits in optimal outcome children with a history of autism.
abstract: This study examined whether language deficits persist even in children with optimal outcomes. We examined a group of children with prior diagnoses on the autism spectrum who had IQs in the normal range, were in age-appropriate mainstream classes, and had improved to such an extent that they were considered to be functioning at the level of their typically developing peers. Fourteen such children between the ages of five and nine were matched on age and sex with typically developing children, and were given a battery of 10 language tests to investigate their language abilities. Results indicated that while these children's grammatical capabilities are mostly indistinguishable from their peers, they are still experiencing difficulties in pragmatic and semantic language.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269-1020, USA. kellyb@post.queens.ca
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fein
authors.forename: Letitia R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Naigles
mesh_terms: D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007360:Intelligence; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007807:Language Tests; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D008297:Male; D012660:Semantics