Autistic Children and Different Tense Forms

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by abnormalities in social communication, language abilities and repetitive behaviors. The present study focused on some grammatical deficits in autistic children. We evaluated the impairment of correct use of different Persian verb tenses in autistic children-s speech. Two standardized Language Test were administered then gathered data were analyzed. The main result of this study was significant difference between the mean scores of correct responses to present tense in comparison with past tense in Persian language. This study demonstrated that tense is severely impaired in autistic children-s speech. Our findings indicated those autistic children-s production of simple present/ past tense opposition to be better than production of future and past periphrastic forms (past perfect, present perfect, past progressive).




References:
[1] K .Tuchman & I . Rapin," The influence of premorbid language skills
and behavior on language recovery in children with verbal auditory
agnosia," Child Neurology., vol.15,no.4,pp.36-43,2000.
[2] P . Howlin, S . Goode, J . Hutton, & M. Rutter, "Adult outcome for
children with autism," Child Psychology and Psychiatry., vol.45,
pp.212-229, 2004.
[3] B . M . Prizant. & J . F. Duchan, J.F," The functions of immediate
echolalia in autistic children," Speech and Hearing Disorders., vol.46,
pp.241-249,1996.
[4] U. Frith," Emphasis and meaning in recall in normal and autistic
children," Language and Speech., vol.2, pp.29-38, 2003.
[5] C . Jarrold,J . Boucher, & J. Russel, "Language profiles in children:
- methodological implications," Autism., vol.1,pp. 57-
76,1997.
[6] W . Fay & A . L. Schuler. Emerging Language in Autistic Children.
Baltimore: University Park Press,1980.
[7] L . Wing, & J . Gould,"Severe impairments of social interaction and
associated abnormalities in children: epidemiologic and classification,"
Autism and Developmental Disorders., vol.9, pp.11-29, 1979.
[8] U. Frith,"A new look at language and communication in autism,"
Disorders of Communication., vol.24, pp.123-150,1989.
[9] L . Schreibman, Autism. Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Saga Press, 1988.
[10] M . Kjelgaard, & H . Tager-Flusberg," An investigation of language
profiles in autism: Implications for genetic subgroups, "Language and
Cognitive Processes., vol.16, pp.287-308, 2001.
[11] G . Bartolucci. & S . J . Pierce," Cross-sectional studies of grammatical
morphemes in autistic and mentally retarded children," Autism and
Developmental Disorders., vol.10, pp.39-49, 1974.
[12] H . Tager-Flusberg," A psychological approach to understanding the
social and language impairments in autism," International Review of
Psychiatry., vol.11,pp.325-334,1999.
[13] C . Lord, M . Rutter,& A. LeCouteur," Autism Diagnostic Interview-
Revised: A revised version of diagnostic interview for caregivers of
individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders," Autism
and Developmental Disorders., vol.24,pp.659-668,1994.
[14] C . Lord, S . Risi, L . Lambrecht, E. H. Cook, B . L. Leventhal, P. C.
Dilavore," The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A
standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with
the spectrum of autism," Autism and Developmental Disorders., vol.30,
pp.205-223,2000.
[15] M . Korkman, U . Kirk,& S . Kemp. NEPSY:A developmental
neuropsychological assessment. San Antonio, TX: Psychological
Corporation, Harcourt Brace, 1998.
[16] M . L. Rice, K. Wexler, J . Marquis,& S . Hershberger," Acquisition of
past tense by children with specific language impairment," Speech
Language & Hearing Research., vol. 43, pp. 1126-1145.