ISSN: 2472-5005

Journal of Speech Pathology & Therapy
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  • Research Article   
  • J Speech Pathol Ther 2018, Vol 3(1): 130
  • DOI: 10.4172/2472-5005.1000130

The Real-Time Comprehension of Idioms by Typical Children, Children with Specific Language Impairment and Children with Autism

Matthew Walenski1 and Tracy Love2,3*
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, USA
2School of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, USA
3Center for Research in Language, University of California at San Diego, USA
*Corresponding Author : Tracy Love, School of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, USA, Tel: +1 619-594-7747, Email: tlove@mail.sdsu.edu

Received Date: Nov 21, 2017 / Accepted Date: Dec 08, 2017 / Published Date: Dec 15, 2017

Abstract

Objective: We examined on-line auditory idiom comprehension in typically developing (TD) children, children with specific language impairment (SLI), and children with autism. Theories of idiom processing in adults agree on a reliance on lexical/semantic memory for these forms, but differ in their specifics. The Lexical Representation hypothesis claims that literal and non-literal meanings are activated in parallel. The Configuration hypothesis claims that a non-literal meaning will take precedence, such that a literal meaning may not be activated at all.
Method: Children aged 6–16 years listened to sentences containing idioms for a cross-modal priming task. The idioms were ambiguous between an idiomatic and a literal meaning. We looked at priming for both meanings at the offset of the idiom.
Results: TD children (n=14) and children with SLI (n=7) primed for the idiomatic but not literal meaning of the idiom. Children with autism (n=5) instead primed for the literal but not idiomatic meaning.
Conclusions: TD children showed an adult-like pattern, consistent with predictions of the Configuration Hypothesis. Children with SLI showed the typical pattern, whereas the atypical pattern observed for children with autism may reflect a particular deficit with complex material in semantic memory.

Keywords: Autism; Children; Language; Language disorders; Specific language impairment

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