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Social communication is a core deficit in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While previous work has characterized language abilities in ASD, work specifically studying semantic knowledge is scarce and contains mixed results. This study sought to better characterize semantic knowledge in children with ASD. We assessed responses to a lexical decision task, with 20 high and 20 low semantic-network-size words and 40 nonwords. Mixed effect logistic regression and linear regression models revealed that semantic neighborhood size impacts accuracy and RT. Children with typical development and ASD had higher accuracy and faster RT for higher semantic-network-size words, controlling for receptive vocabulary and cognition. Linear regressions tested whether performance on separate assessments of cognition, receptive vocabulary, and syntax explained variance in lexical decisions. There were no unique predictors for real word accuracy or RT. However, nonword lexical decisions were predicted by receptive vocabulary knowledge in typically developing children; conversely, syntax and general cognitive skills uniquely predicted nonword judgments in children with ASD.
Funding: R01DC011750-02, T32DC005359, T32HD04989908, F31DC013485-01, P30HD03352 |
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