The Influence of Language Context on Repetitive Speech Use in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Author ORCID Identifier
Allison Gladfelter: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2573-2035
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
Abstract
Purpose
Although repetitive speech is a hallmark characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the contributing factors that influence repetitive speech use remain unknown. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine if the language context impacts the amount and type of repetitive speech produced by children with ASD.
Method
As part of a broader word-learning study, 11 school-age children with ASD participated in two different language contexts: storytelling and play. Previously collected language samples were transcribed and coded for four types of repetitive speech: immediate echolalia, delayed echolalia, verbal stereotypy, and vocal stereotypy. The rates and proportions of repetitive speech were compared across the two language contexts using Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests. Individual characteristics were further explored using Spearman correlations.
Results
The children produced lower rates of repetitive speech during the storytelling context than the play-based context. Only immediate echolalia differed between the two contexts based on rate and approached significance based on proportion, with more immediate echolalia produced in the play-based context than in the storytelling context. There were no significant correlations between repetitive speech and measures of social responsiveness, expressive or receptive vocabulary, or nonverbal intelligence.
Conclusions
The children with ASD produced less immediate echolalia in the storytelling context than in the play-based context. Immediate echolalia use was not related to social skills, vocabulary, or nonverbal IQ scores. These findings offer valuable insights into better understanding repetitive speech use in children with ASD.
First Page
327
Last Page
334
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-00003
Publication Date
2020
Recommended Citation
Gladfelter, A. & VanZuiden, C. (2020). The Influence of Language Context on Repetitive Speech Use in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29, 327-334. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-00003
Original Citation
Gladfelter, A. & VanZuiden, C. (2020). The Influence of Language Context on Repetitive Speech Use in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29, 327-334. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-00003
Department
Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literature| School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders
