“Um” and “Uh” Usage Patterns in Children with Autism: Associations with Measures of Structural and Pragmatic Language Ability

Pragmatic language difficulties, including unusual filler usage, are common among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study investigated “um” and “uh” usage in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) controls. We analyzed transcribed Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADO...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2023-08, Vol.53 (8), p.2986-2997
Main Authors: Lawley, Grace O., Bedrick, Steven, MacFarlane, Heather, Dolata, Jill K., Salem, Alexandra C., Fombonne, Eric
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autistic children
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Child and School Psychology
Children
Diagnosis
Evaluation
Intelligence tests
Interpersonal communication in children
Language
Language Patterns
Language Skills
Language Usage
Measures (Individuals)
Neurosciences
Original Paper
Pediatrics
Pervasive developmental disorders
Pragmatics
Predictor Variables
Psychological Patterns
Psychology
Public Health
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Summary:Pragmatic language difficulties, including unusual filler usage, are common among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study investigated “um” and “uh” usage in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) controls. We analyzed transcribed Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) sessions for 182 children (117 ASD, 65 TD), aged 4 to 15. Although the groups did not differ in “uh” usage, the ASD group used fewer “ums” than the TD group. This held true after controlling for age, sex, and IQ. Within ASD, social affect and pragmatic language scores did not predict filler usage; however, structural language scores predicted “um” usage. Lower “um” rates among children with ASD may reflect problems with planning or production rather than pragmatic language.
ISSN:0162-3257
1573-3432
DOI:10.1007/s10803-022-05565-4