Abnormal Speech Patterns in Autism

Under the DSM-IV criteria in use when this was written, qualitative impairment in communication was one of the diagnostic features of autism. Since DSM-5 (2013), language delay is no longer required for the diagnosis and is recorded separately; children with autism show a wide range of language skills, from the almost complete absence of functional communication to adequate linguistic knowledge, but impairments in the use of that knowledge in conversation or other discourse contexts.
One of the major characteristics of autism is abnormal speech patterns. Children with autism are often non-verbal when initially diagnosed. Speech that is present is often atypical and serves limited communicative function.
The speech of many children with autism appears abnormal and is often described as machine-like, “monotonic,” or “sing-song.” The abnormalities were even noted in early descriptions of autism. However, their exact characteristics, underlying mechanisms, consistency, and diagnostic power had not yet been established.
Earlier studies on abnormal speech patterns focused on prosody or abnormal supra-segmental aspects of speech production. However, recent studies quantified speech abnormalities in autism through objective measures. However, there was still no clear-cut difference between children with autism and other children who experience delayed speech development.

Further studies have been conducted to make this distinction by developing speech spectrum-based measures, such as the long-term average spectrum - LTAS -. Some of the areas where studies have been conducted include:

• Long-term average spectrum analysis
• Pitch analysis
• Noise level estimation
• Spectral variability

A number of abnormal speech patterns in autism have been identified, including echolalia, pronoun reversal, metaphorical language, poor grammatical structure, atonality, and arrhythmia.
Studies have shown that abnormal speech patterns in autism are reflected in pitch variability and spectral content. The variability may be an indication of abnormal processing of auditory feedback or instability in the mechanisms that control pitch.
Children with autism tend to repeat certain words and phrases over and over. These phrases are often quite basic in nature. Many people with autism are unable to label objects or use and understand abstract concepts until quite late, if at all.
Many people with autism use idiosyncratic speech that makes little sense to those who are not familiar with them. These individuals also use odd tones, where the speeches are characterized by rises at the end of sentences and are rather monotonous. They may also use irregular intonation, pitch, pace, rhythm, and articulation. Some also find it hard to adjust their volume to the setting.

References:

APA, 1994:70

Margaret & Thomas, 2005

Stuart & Robert,2008

Bonneh, Levanon, Dean-Pardo, Lossos, & Adini, 2010

Kanner, 1943

Lofqvist and Mandersson, 1987

Susan, 2005, p39

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