Consciência sintática: correlações no espectro do autismo

Abstract

ResumoEste estudo avaliou a consciência sintática de dez sujeitos no espectro do autismo (com idades entre 5 anos e 7 meses e 14 anos e 8 meses) e investigou o papel que a consciência sintática desempenha nos padrões de linguagem desses sujeitos. Constatou-se a existência de diferentes perfi s linguísticos por meio da Prova de Consciência Sintática (Adaptada). Foram detectados quatro subgrupos com: (a) desempenho inferior em correção de frases agramaticais e frases agramaticais e assemânticas; (b) desempenho inferior em correção de frases agramaticais e assemânticas; (c) desempenho mediano em todos os subtestes e acima da média em julgamento gramatical; e (d) desempenho superior nos quatro subtestes. Esses resultados não são generalizáveis para a população de sujeitos com autismo, mas revelaram evidências da interferência das falhas de habilidades presentes no espectro do autismo nas habilidades envolvidas na realização das tarefas. Palavras-chave: Transtorno autístico, desenvolvimento da linguagem, avaliação, cognição. AbstractTen subjects on the autism spectrum (ages ranging from 5 years and 7 months and 14 years and 8 months) were evaluated with the aim of detecting the existence of syntactic awareness and the role it plays in the patterns of language of these subjects. The existence of different language profi les was found through the Syntactic Awareness Test (adapted version). Four subgroups were detected: (a) inferior performance in the correction of ungrammatical sentences and of ungrammatical and non--semantic sentences; (b) inferior performance in the correction of ungrammatical and non-semantic sentences; (c) average performance in all subtests and above average in grammatical judgment; and (d) superior performance in all four subtests. These results are not generalizable for subjects with autism, but reveal evidence of failures in abilities that are present on the autism spectrum with the abilities required for the accomplishment of the tasks.

Stimulation of Executive Functions as Part of the Language Intervention Process in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…The close association between language development and executive functions (EFs) has been studied for decades regarding specific aspects, such as meta-representation and syntactic awareness in children with ASD and Asperger syndrome [2-4]. However, it is still not clear if there is a causal relationship between them.…”

“…Other researchers have found that EF impairments are associated with language deficits intrinsic to ASD [6, 7]. In contrast, findings from some studies suggest that there is no link between language ability and EFs [4]. Results that connect EFs with language showed an association between both verbal and nonverbal abilities and direct measures of EFs [25].…”