ERIC Number: EJ1475135
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1522-7227
EISSN: EISSN-1522-7219
Available Date: 2025-06-09
The Strengths of Speech Divergence in Autistic People: Implications for Assessment and Support
Steven K. Kapp1; Juliette Gudknecht1
Infant and Child Development, v34 n3 e70017 2025
This narrative review analyzes the visual and auditory advantages that autistic people with speech divergence (A-SD) may have compared with autistic people without speech divergence (A-NoSD) or non-autistic people. Importantly, A-SDs' intelligence and communication skills are often underestimated in research and practice. Further, this paper provides evidence of how perception in these domains impacts cognitive and language development, with related suggestions to leverage strengths and address challenges. Strengths in auditory perception may contribute to early speech acquisition divergence but also support A-SD's cognitive development and assist in developing language. Understanding A-SD's strengths may help to recognise how they gain cognitive and language skills and build from their strengths. This paper has implications for holistic assessment and strength-informed support.
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Speech Impairments, Intelligence, Communication Skills, Cognitive Development, Auditory Perception, Language Acquisition, Language Skills
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: UT2MC39440
Author Affiliations: 1Centre for Interaction, Development and Diversity, School of Psychology, Health and Sport Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK