Does language guide behavior in children with autism?
It is unknown if children with high-functioning autism (HFA) employ self-directed speech to guide motor sequencing and motor control, or if they can benefit from using self-directed speech when prompted to do so. Participants performed a three-movement sequence across three conditions: Natural Learning, Task-Congruent Verbalization (TCV), and Task-Incongruent Verbalization (TIV). TIV deleteriously impacted performance in the typically-developing group (n = 22), and not the HFA group (n = 21). TCV improved performance in both groups, but to a greater extent in the HFA group. These findings suggest that children with HFA do not initiate self-directed speech spontaneously, but can use language to guide behavior when prompted to do so.
Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 1750 E Fairmount Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA, jen.gidleylarson@gmail.com.
Jennifer C
JC
Gidley Larson
Yana
Y
Suchy
D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male