Cohesion in the discourse interaction of autistic, specifically language-impaired, and normal children

This study examines discourse cohesion in young normal, specifically language-impaired, and autistic children. The Halliday and Hasan (1976) approach was applied to investigate cohesion strategies used in interactive discourse by 10 autistic, 8 specifically language-impaired, and 8 normal children matched for language age (MLU, receptive vocabulary and syntax). The following questions were investigated: (a) Do all three groups use the same cohesion strategies in their discourse, and if so, do they use these strategies with the same rate and with the same patterning? (b) What can be said with respect to the errors the individual groups make? Results showed that all three groups used the same cohesion strategies. All groups were similar in patterning. Significant group differences were found in the overall rate of correct use and in the use of individual cohesive ties. The groups also differed significantly in overall error rates, and error rates related to individual tie categories. Results are discussed from the perspective of possible variables contributing to group differences. Frequency of occurrence in natural discourse is discussed in terms of specific cohesive strategies used by the children.