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Social Communication and Structural Language of Girls With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Jenny M Burton1,2, Nancy A Creaghead1, Noah Silbert1
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati, OH.
Girls with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) show impaired social communication and structural language compared to typically developing girls. Comprehensive assessment is crucial for accurate diagnosis in this population.
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Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Girls with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) may present with subtler social communication and language differences compared to boys.
- Existing research often focuses on male presentations, potentially masking specific challenges in females.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and characterize social communication and structural language skills in school-aged girls with HF-ASD.
- To compare these skills against a matched group of typically developing (TD) girls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized standardized assessments including the Test of Pragmatic Language-Second Edition (TOPL-2) and Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fifth Edition (CELF-5).
- Incorporated parent-reported measures such as the Children's Communication Checklist-2 (CCC-2) and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (VABS-II).
- Analyzed data from 18 girls with HF-ASD and 19 TD girls aged 7 to 15 years.
Main Results:
- Girls with HF-ASD scored significantly lower on social communication measures (TOPL-2, CCC-2), indicating impairments, though some achieved average scores.
- No significant differences in structural language were found using the CELF-5, but girls with HF-ASD showed lower scores on VABS-II communication subdomains.
- A substantial percentage of girls with HF-ASD scored below average in receptive (61%) and expressive (83%) communication on the VABS-II.
Conclusions:
- Contrary to assumptions of masked deficits, girls with HF-ASD exhibit clear social communication and structural language impairments when compared to TD girls.
- Assessment of girls with HF-ASD requires careful consideration of multiple data sources to accurately identify communication challenges.
- Findings highlight the importance of sex-specific research in understanding autism spectrum disorder presentations.

