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Lifelong Tone Language Experience does not Eliminate Deficits in Neural Encoding of Pitch in Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Atypical pitch processing is a feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which affects non-tone language speakers’ communication. Lifelong auditory experience has been demonstrated to modify genetically-predisposed risks for pitch processing. We examined individuals with ASD to test the hypothesis that lifelong auditory experience in tone language may eliminate impaired pitch processing in ASD. We examined children’s and adults’ Frequency-following Response (FFR), a neurophysiological component indexing early neural sensory encoding of pitch. Univariate and machine-learning-based analytics suggest less robust pitch encoding and diminished pitch distinctions in the FFR from individuals with ASD. Contrary to our hypothesis, results point to a linguistic pitch encoding impairment associated with ASD that may not be eliminated even by lifelong sensory experience.

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Data Availability

The numeric data and analysis scripts are available on https://osf.io/nqpka/?view_only=851f70775d8e4659b81cd8d0084df62f.

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Acknowledgements

We thank CUHK-NTU-WSU Joint Laboratory for Infant Research and CUHK-UU Joint Centre for Language, Mind and Brain for supporting our research. We also thank Gangyi Feng for his advice on Support Vector Machine. We would also like to thank families who participated in this research study.

Funding

This work is supported by funding from the Health and Medical Research Fund (HKSAR) [02130846], the University Grants Committee (HKSAR) (RGC/HSSPFS) [34000118], the Global Parent Child Resource Centre Limited, and Dr Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation to P.W.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Joseph C. Y. Lau, Judy S. K. Kwan, Xin Kang & Patrick C. M. Wong

  2. Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Joseph C. Y. Lau, Xin Kang & Patrick C. M. Wong

  3. Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Carol K. S. To

  4. Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Judy S. K. Kwan

  5. Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Joseph C. Y. Lau & Molly Losh

  6. Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Joseph C. Y. Lau

  7. Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Joseph C. Y. Lau

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  1. Joseph C. Y. Lau
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  4. Xin Kang
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Contributions

PW designed the study; JK, JL, CT, and XK performed research; JL and XK analysed data; JL and PW wrote the paper; CT, JK, XK, and ML edited the paper and provided general comments on the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick C. M. Wong.

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Conflict of Interest

P.W. and C.T. declare that they are owners of two separate startup companies supported by a Hong Kong Government technology startup scheme. The research reported here is not associated with these two companies. The other authors declare no conflict of interests.

Ethical Approval

All procedures have been approved by The Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong—New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee and are in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed assent (from each child participant’s parent or legal guardian) or informed consent (from each adult participant) approved by The Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong—New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee was obtained.

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Lau, J.C.Y., To, C.K.S., Kwan, J.S.K. et al. Lifelong Tone Language Experience does not Eliminate Deficits in Neural Encoding of Pitch in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 3291–3310 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04796-7

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