Pre-reading language understanding and production in Croatian children with autism spectrum disorder

Main Article Content

Jasmina Ivšac Pavliša Matea Valenčak Sanja Šimleša Mirjana Lenček

Abstract

Language comprehension and production in the pre-reading years significantly influence the acquisition of reading skills. This study compared differences in pre-reading skills between 10 children showing typical development and 10 children with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger syndrome speaking Croatian, a morphologically rich language for which few studies on acquisition of pre-reading skills have been conducted. Children 5-7 years old were tested using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III-HR), Test for Reception of Grammar (TROG-2:HR), and the Teddy Test for Expression of Semantic Bonds and Morphological Closure. The two groups performed similarly on the PPVT-III-HR and TROG-2:HR tests, while typically developing children performed significantly better on the Teddy Test. This differential performance appears to be due, at least in part, to defects in expression of semantic connections, grammar difficulties, and other linguistic specificities documented in children with HFA or Asperger syndrome, such as idiosyncratic language use, neologisms and meticulous language.

Article Details

How to Cite
IVŠAC PAVLIŠA, Jasmina et al. Pre-reading language understanding and production in Croatian children with autism spectrum disorder. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 6, june 2017. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/1342>. Date accessed: 28 mar. 2024.
Keywords
prereading skills, language comprehension, language production, autism spectrum disorder, high-functioning autism, Asperger syndrome
Section
Research Articles

References

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Dunn, L. M., Dunn, L.M., Kovačević, M., Padovan, N., Hržica, G., Kuvač Kraljević, J., Mustapić, M., Dobravac, G., Palmović, M. (2010). Peabody slikovni test rječnika, PPVT-III-HR. Zagreb: Naklada Slap.
Friedrich, G. (1998). Teddy test-Sprache Entwicklungstest. Götingen, Bern, Toronto, Seattle: Hogrefe-Verlag für Psychologie.
Kamio, Y., Robins, D., Kelley, E., Swainson, B., & Fein, D. (2007). Atypical lexical/semantic processing in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders without early language delay. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(6), 1116-1122.
Kjelgaard, M. M., & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2001). An investigation of language impairment in autism: Implications for genetic subgroups. Language and Cognitive Processes, 16(2-3), 287-308.
Myles, B. S., & Simpson, R. L. (2002). Asperger Syndrome: An Overview of Characteristics. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 17(3), 132-137.
Mason, J. M. (1992). Reading stories to preliterate children: A proposed connection to reading. In P. Gough & L. Ehri & R. Treiman, (Eds.), Reading acquisition (pp. 215-243). Hillsdale (N.J.): Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Nation, K., Clarke, P., Wright, B., & Williams, C. (2006). Patterns of Reading Ability in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(7), 911-919.
Noterdaeme, M., Wriedt, E., & Höhne, C. (2010). Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism: language, motor and cognitive profiles. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 19, 475-481.
Paynter, J., & Peterson, C. (2009). Language and ToM development in autism versus Asperger syndrome: Contrasting influences of syntactic versus lexical/semantic maturity. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 377-385.
Randi, J., Newman, T. i Grigorenko, E.L. (2010). Teaching Children with Autism to Read for Meaning: Challenges and Possibilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(7), 890–902.
Raven, J. C., (1995). Progresivne matrice u boji- CPM. Zagreb, Naklada Slap.
Saalasti, S., Lepistö, T., Toppila, E., Kujala, T., Laakso, M., Nieminen-von Wendt, T., von Wendt, L, & Jansson-Verkasalo, E. (2008). Language abilities of children with Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders,38(8), 1574-80.
Šimleša, S., Ljubešić, M. (2009). Aspergerov sindrom u dječjoj dobi. Suvremena psihologija. 2, 373-389.
Tager-Flusberg, H. (2006). Defining language phenotypes in autism. Clinical Neuroscience Research, 6(3-4), 219-224.
Venter, A., Lord, C. i Schopler, E. (1992). A Follow-Up Study of High-Functioning Autistic Children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 33 (3), 489-507.
Venter, A., Lord, C., & Schopler, E. (1992). A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 33(3), 489-507.
Volden, J., & Lord, C. (1991). Neologisms and idiosyncratic language in autistic speakers. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21(2), 109-130.