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Judging meaning: A domain-level difference between autistic and non-autistic adults
1Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
Royal Society Open Science
|January 4, 2021
Summary
Autistic adults show specific challenges in receptive communication, not just theory of mind, impacting social understanding. Vocabulary skills were stronger, but overall communication difficulties were linked to real-world interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often associated with social communication challenges.
- Previous research has focused on specific deficits like 'theory of mind' in autistic individuals.
- Core language abilities in autistic adults are not fully understood in relation to social inferencing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate selective difficulties in inferencing and social understanding in autistic adults with average language skills.
- To differentiate between specific cognitive factors and general processing differences in autistic adults.
- To explore the relationship between test performance and self-reported communication difficulties.
Main Methods:
- 191 participants (autistic and non-autistic adults) completed an online assessment battery.
- Confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze the data structure.
- Measures included tests of inferencing, social understanding, vocabulary, and implied meaning.
Main Results:
- Vocabulary knowledge was distinct from a 'receptive communication' factor.
- Autistic adults underperformed on the 'receptive communication' factor but excelled in vocabulary.
- Lower performance on the battery predicted self-reported communication difficulties.
- Information-processing differences, not isolated 'theory of mind' deficits, were suggested.
- Differences in implied meaning tests were complex and multifactorial.
- Autistic women generally outperformed autistic men.
Conclusions:
- Autistic adults exhibit subtle, domain-level pragmatic differences rather than solely isolated 'theory of mind' deficits.
- General information-processing differences may underlie communication challenges in autistic adults.
- Substantial variability exists within the autistic population, with potential gender-related performance differences.
- Findings question the basis of pragmatic differences and highlight the need for nuanced understanding.
