Planning in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Verbal Mediation

Larson, Caroline; Gangopadhyay, Ishanti; Prescott, Kathryn E; Kaushanskaya, Margarita; Weismer, Susan Ellis

doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04639-5

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…These selective associations suggest that poorer accuracy in the ASD than NT group is explained by individual differences in structural language skills, and that poorer efficiency may reflect diminished use of language in the form of verbal mediation to guide performance during the task for autistic individuals. This interpretation is supported by Larson et al (2021), which demonstrated diminished use of verbal mediation during time spent planning on a visuospatial planning task (i.e., a complex executive function task) in autistic relative to NT participants and in autistic participants with co-occurring structural language impairment relative to autistic participants without co-occurring structural language impairment. This interpretation is also supported by neural evidence that brain regions associated with executive control may be less highly activated during spatial cognition tasks in ASD than in NT peers, even in the absence of differences in performance accuracy (Damarla et al, 2010).…”

Section: Mental Rotation and Language In Asdmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Another limitation of the current study was our inability to analyze subgroups of autistic individuals with versus without co-occurring structural (e.g., morphosyntax) language impairment. It is possible that individuals with language impairment present with different patterns of mental rotation performance and different associations between language and performance, as has been reported in prior work (e.g., Larson et al, 2021). Though we used a measure of language that captures the key area of weakness in language impairment, grammar skills, in our analyses, we were not able to examine within subgroup patterns.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Visuospatial skills are often viewed as a relative strength in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet difficulties have been observed on visuospatial executive function (Lai et al, 2017; Wang et al, 2017) and spatial navigation tasks (Lind et al, 2013, 2014; Ring et al, 2018; Smith, 2015), as well as in the comprehension and production of spatial language (Bochynska, Coventry et al, 2020; Bochynska, Vulchanova et al, 2020; but see Prescott et al, 2023). Development of spatial cognition and language is thought to be interrelated through several mechanisms in neurotypical (NT) development, including engagement of shared concepts between systems (e.g., spatial verbs and syntactic frames, spatial prepositions and directional information; Coventry & Garrod, 2004; Hayward & Tarr, 1995; Landau & Hoffman, 2005; Landau & Sciences, 1993) and the use of verbal mediation to guide behavior (e.g., self‐talk; Larson et al, 2021; Marcovitch & Zelazo, 2009; Zelazo, 2004). Yet, there is evidence suggesting a disconnect between language and spatial cognition systems in autistic individuals, as well as an important role for individual differences in structural language ability (e.g., Bochynska, 2018; Bochynska, Vulchanova et al, 2020; Ellis Weismer et al, 2018; Larson et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental rotation and language in autism spectrum disorder

Larson,

Bochynska,

Vulchanova

2024

Autism Research

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Though visuospatial skills are often considered a relative strength in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), unexplained difficulties relative to neurotypical (NT) peers have also been observed. Dissociations between spatial cognition and language skills in ASD may explain these difficulties given that these systems are linked in NT individuals. The current study examined performance on a mental rotation task that systematically varied stimulus features and the degree to which performance was associated with language in ASD relative to NT peers. Participants were children and young adults with ASD and 25 pairwise age‐ and IQ‐matched NT peers (p's>0.53). The mental rotation task involved four conditions: two‐dimensional (2D) abstract figures, three‐dimensional (3D) abstract figures, 2D common objects, and 3D common objects. Structural language was measured using the grammar subscale from the Test of Language Development: Intermediate adapted for Norwegian. Mixed‐effects model results indicated that autistic individuals were less accurate and had slower reaction time across mental rotation task conditions than NT peers. Language was associated with mental rotation accuracy for both groups across conditions, but with reaction time only for the NT group. The current study demonstrated selective associations between language and performance on a classic spatial cognition task in autistic individuals. Namely, there was a dissociation between language and in‐the‐moment efficiency in the ASD group, and this dissociation may reflect a broader dissociation between visuospatial and language systems.

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Section: Mental Rotation and Language In Asdmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental rotation and language in autism spectrum disorder

Larson,

Bochynska,

Vulchanova

2024

Autism Research

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“…This more individualized approach aligns with the neurodiversity perspective as it accounts for the unique needs and experiences of each individual and represents a long‐term goal to which our criminal justice should aspire. In the absence of assuming language‐based heterogeneity, supports and accommodations may also mistakenly address secondary skills, like executive functioning or externalizing behavior, when the area of need is language‐based supports (e.g., Larson et al, 2021; (Wittke & Spaulding, 2018)).…”

Section: Communication and Environmental Supportsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Language is a critical mediator of autistic experiences within the criminal justice system

Larson,

Eigsti,

Spaulding

et al. 2023

Autism Research

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Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by social communication challenges and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, but also by highly heterogeneous language skills. The recent International Society of Autism Research (INSAR) policy statement, Autism and the Criminal Justice System: Policy opportunities and challenges (INSAR, 2022), aims to prevent, reduce, and improve interactions between autistic individuals and the criminal justice system. This policy statement provides a foundation for considering how to include language in these important aims. In this commentary, we outline the centrality of language skills to these interactions and provide specific recommendations that can inform future research and provide guidance for autistic individuals, community partners, and individuals working within the criminal justice system. Considering language as a part of justice system policy for autistic individuals will result in greater equity and inclusion, particularly for autistic individuals with co‐occurring language deficits and those who are linguistically diverse. Moreover, it will allow autistic individuals to combat other barriers to effectively navigating interactions with the criminal justice system, such as those related to the core features of autism. We advocate for a greater role for service providers who can assess challenges in language skills, and identify the specific accommodations each autistic individual will need to prevent, reduce, and improve interactions with the criminal justice system.

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“…These findings suggest that some individuals with ASD have poor overall language ability and may have language profiles similar to those found in Developmental Language Disorder. Furthermore, there are similarities in patterns of performance between ASD and Developmental Language Disorder in other cognitive domains, such as executive function ( Ellis Weismer et al, 2017 , Larson et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%