Can Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders “Hear” a Speaking Face?

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01619.x
• Publication Date: 2011-07-26T17:53:10Z
• Authors: Julia R. Irwin; Lauren A. Tornatore; Lawrence Brancazio; D. H. Whalen
• Keywords: Male; Adolescent; Verbal Behavior; Communication; Lipreading; 05 social sciences; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Reference Values; Child, Preschool; Speech Perception; Humans; Female; Language Development Disorders; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Child; Perceptual Masking

This study used eye‐tracking methodology to assess audiovisual speech perception in 26 children ranging age from 5 15 years, half with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typical development. Given the characteristic reduction gaze faces of others ASD, it was hypothesized that they would show reduced influence visual information on heard speech. Responses were compared a set auditory, visual, tasks. Even when fixated face speaker, ASD less visually influenced than development controls. indicates fundamental differences processing which may contribute their language communication impairments.