Imagination in Autism: A Chance to Improve Early Language Therapy

Vyshedskiy, Andrey

doi:10.3390/healthcare9010063

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(71 reference statements)

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“…1 ), on the simplest level, these results suggest a common regulatory mechanism behind comprehension of spatial prepositions, verb tenses, flexible syntax, possessive pronouns, explanations, simple stories, and elaborate fairytales; a different mechanism behind color, size, and number modifiers comprehension; and still a different mechanism behind commands comprehension. Elucidation of possible mechanisms underlying syntactic, modifier, and command language phenotypes is scientifically interesting and may be important for developing better treatment options for individuals with language deficits 25 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are there distinct levels of language comprehension in autistic individuals – cluster analysis

Vyshedskiy,

Venkatesh,

Khokhlovich

2024

npj Mental Health Res

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Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication. We assessed 14-language comprehension abilities in 31,845 autistic individuals 4 to 21 years of age using parent-generated reports. Data-driven cluster analysis identified three distinct levels of language comprehension: (1) individuals in the command-language-phenotype were limited to comprehension of simple commands; (2) individuals in the modifier-language-phenotype showed additional comprehension of color, size, and number modifiers; 3) individuals in the most-advanced syntactic-language-phenotype added comprehension of spatial prepositions, verb tenses, flexible syntax, possessive pronouns, and complex narratives. The observation of three distinct language levels was consistent across different age groups. Autistic individuals’ communication level is currently commonly characterized as nonverbal, minimally-verbal, or verbal. This one-dimensional description is not ideal for characterizing an individual’s communication ability. In fact, a nonverbal individual with syntactic-language-phenotype may have normal ability to communicate albeit nonverbally, while a verbal person with command-language-phenotype does not have a normal ability to communicate by any means. Identification of the three distinct language-comprehension-phenotypes provides an opportunity to enhance characterization of individuals’ communication level. A composite description in terms of both, verbal abilities and a language-comprehension-level, will not only be more precise, but can improve language therapy by focusing it on both aspects of language development.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are there distinct levels of language comprehension in autistic individuals – cluster analysis

Vyshedskiy,

Venkatesh,

Khokhlovich

2024

npj Mental Health Res

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“…In other words, once a single mechanism is acquired, the whole cluster of linguistic abilities is manifested. Elucidation of these neurological mechanisms is important not only for developing better treatment options for individuals with language de cits 25 , but also for understanding of language evolution in archaic humans [26][27][28] , who may have acquired language comprehension in the same three steps. Independently, unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis assigned 31,845 participants to clusters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of 31,000 autistic individuals identifies three distinct groups of language comprehension abilities

Vyshedskiy

Venkatesh²,

Khokhlovich³

2022

Preprint

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The fundamental question of language acquisition has intrigued humanity since the beginning of recorded history. One of the earliest testaments to this has been left by Greek historian Herodotus, who described a legendary experiment conducted by the Egyptian Pharaoh Psammetichus (664-610 BC) on two newborn babies which were deprived of verbal contact in hope that they will develop their own, “primordial” language. In modern times, the acquisition of vocabulary has been studied in great detail, but surprisingly little attention has been paid to acquisition of more complex language comprehension abilities. In this study we assess 14 language comprehension abilities in 31,845 autistic individuals using parent-generated reports. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering identified three distinct language comprehension phenotypes: 1) individuals in the command language phenotype were limited to comprehension of their name and simple commands (40% participants); 2) individuals in the modifier language phenotype showed additional comprehension of color, size, and number modifiers (43%); and 3) individuals in the most-advanced prepositional language phenotype added comprehension of spatial prepositions, verb tenses, flexible syntax, possessive pronouns, and fairytales (17%). The three language comprehension phenotypes likely correspond to three distinct neurological mechanisms. Elucidation of these neurological mechanisms is important not only for developing better treatment options for individuals with language deficits, but also for understanding of language evolution in archaic humans, who may have acquired language comprehension in a similar three-step-wise fashion.

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The utility of the autism-spectrum quotient to screen for autism spectrum disorder in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Bemmouna

Weibel

Kosel

et al. 2022

Psychiatry Research

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Imagination in Autism: A Chance to Improve Early Language Therapy

Cited by 4 publications

References 71 publications

Are there distinct levels of language comprehension in autistic individuals – cluster analysis

Are there distinct levels of language comprehension in autistic individuals – cluster analysis

Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of 31,000 autistic individuals identifies three distinct groups of language comprehension abilities

The utility of the autism-spectrum quotient to screen for autism spectrum disorder in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

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