A comparative study of language phenotypes in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Specifi c Language Impairment

  1. Gustavo Mario Ramírez-Santana 1
  2. Víctor Manuel Acosta-Rodríguez 1
  3. Sergio Hernández-Expósito 1
  1. 1 Universidad de La Laguna
    info

    Universidad de La Laguna

    San Cristobal de La Laguna, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01r9z8p25

Journal:
Psicothema

ISSN: 0214-9915,  1886-144X

Year of publication: 2019

Volume: 31

Issue: 4

Pages: 437-442

Type: Article

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Abstract

Background: Problems with communication and language are among the main characteristics of both Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Specific Language Impairment (SLI). The main objective of the present study was to analyze whether the two disorders have similar formal language profiles. Method: The study involved three groups of 20 students each, divided into ASD, SLI, and Control, of similar ages and IQ. The CELF-4 standardized test was administered to assess their language skills. Results: No significant differences in language were found between the SLI and ASD groups, with no effect sizes. Differences were observed between the SLI and ASD groups when they were compared separately with the Control group, with a large effect size. Conclusions: There is an overlap in the linguistic profiles of children with SLI and children with ASD. Similarity is thus confirmed in comprehensive and expressive language, as well as in morphosyntactic and lexical-semantic production

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Funding information

This work was supported in part by a grant from the Cabildo de Tenerife through the María Rosa Alonso Program of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Efficacy of Teaching Reading in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Funders

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Data source: Dialnet