Abstract
Mutism or echolalia and failure to analyze sentences for their deep structures are characteristics of the language behavior of autistic children. The experimental literature indicates that cognitive processes which underlie the construction of a lexicon or the learning of ordering rules may be disturbed in these children. The inability to coordinate visual and aural stimulation inhibits lexical development, while difficulties in sequencing and use of inappropriate sequencing codes inhibits the growth of a productive grammar. It is suggested that remedial programs which include training in these processes may prove beneficial, and that substitute modes of information processing which the autistic child uses may be exploited to teach language forms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bakker, D. J. Ear-asymmetry with monaural stimulation: Relations to lateral dominance and lateral awareness.Neuropsychologia, 1970,8, 103–117.
Campbell-Frazer, A. (Ed.)The Works of George Berkeley. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1901.
Churchill, D. W. The relation of infantile autism and early childhood schizophrenia to developmental language disorders of childhood.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 182–197.
Conrad, R. An association between memory errors and errors due to acoustic masking of speech.Nature, 1962,193, 1313–1315.
Creak, M. Reflections on communication in autistic children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 1–8.
Frith, U. Studies in pattern detection in normal and autistic children: II. Reproduction and production of color sequences.Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1970,10, 120–135. (a)
Frith, U. Studies in pattern detection in normal and autistic children: I. Immediate recall of auditory sequences.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1970,76, 413–420. (b)
Frith, U. Cognitive mechanisms in autism: Experiments with color and tone sequence production.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 160–173.
Gazzaniga, M. S. One brain—two minds?American Scientist, 1972,60, 311–317.
Hermelin, B. Recent experimental research. In P. J. Mittler (Ed.),Aspects of autism. London: British Psychological Society, 1968.
Hermelin, B. Locating events in space and time: Experiments with autistic, blind and deaf children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 288–298.
Hermelin, B., & O'Connor, N. Effects of sensory input and sensory dominance on severely disturbed autistic children and subnormal controls.British Journal of Psychology, 1964,55, 201–206.
Hermelin, B., & O'Connor, N.Psychological experiments with autistic children. London: Pergamon, 1970.
Hermelin, B., & O'Connor, N. Spatial coding in normal, autistic and blind children.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1971,33, 127–132.
Huntzman, D. L. Articulatory coding in short term memory.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1967,6, 312–316.
Lovaas, O. I., Berberich, J. P., Perloff, B. F., & Schaeffer, B. Acquisition of imitative speech by schizophrenic children.Science, 1966,151, 705–707.
Lovaas, O. I., & Schreibman, L. Stimulus overselectivity of autistic children in a two choice situation.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1971,9, 305–310.
Lovaas, O. I., Schreibman, L., Koegel, R., & Rehm, R. Selective responding by autistic children to multiple sensory input.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1971,77, 211–222.
O'Connor, N., & Hermelin, B. Visual analogues of verbal operations.Language and Speech, 1965,8, 197–207.
O'Connor, N., & Hermelin, B. The spatial or temporal organization of short-term memory.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1973,25, 335–343.
Premack, D. Language in chimpanzee?Science, 1971,172, 808–822.
Schopler, E. Visual versus tactile receptor preferences in normal and schizophrenic children.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1966,71, 108–114.
Slobin, D. I. The acquisition of Russian as a native language. In F. Smith & G. A. Miller (Eds.),The genesis of language: A psycholinguistic approach. Cambridge, Massachusetts: M.I.T. Press, 1966.
Swisher, L., & Hirsh, I. J. Brain damage and the ordering of two temporally successive stimuli.Neuropsychologia, 1972,10, 137–152.
Warren, J. M. Solution of sign differentiated objects and positional discrimination by rhesus monkeys.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1960,96, 365–369.
Webster, C. D., McPherson, H., Sloman, L., Evans, M. A., & Kuchar, E. Communicating with an autistic boy by gestures.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1973,3, 337–346.
Weir, R.Language in the crib. The Hague: Mouton, 1962.
Wing, L., & Wing, J. K. The elements of the syndrome of childhood autism. In P. J. Mittler (Ed.),Aspects of autism. London: British Psychological Society, 1968.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dalgleish, B. Cognitive processing and linguistic reference in autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord 5, 353–361 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540681
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540681