Studies from Roehampton University have provided new data on autism
2007 NOV 19 -- "The talk of persons with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) often features distinctive forms of repetition (echophenomena). Although often characterized as meaningless or inappropriate, there is evidence that such practices can sometimes have communicative functions To investigate the interactional organization of repetition practices found in the talk of an adolescent girl with an ASD As part of a project examining the interactional practices of children with ASD, we video-recorded 6 hours of activity in a school classroom for severe learning difficulty (SLD) children," scientists in London, the United Kingdom report. "This paper considers instances of repeated talk produced by a class pupil, 'Helen'. The analysis involved assembling a collection of examples of the repeated talk which were then transcribed in detail. Conversation Analysis was used to explore the sequential contexts in which they occur and precisely how they are produced Two forms of repetition occur very frequently in Helen's talk: first, repeats of turn-final lexical items from another speaker's immediately before talk (prior-turn repeats, a form of immediate echolalia), and second, repeats of the first item within a turn such that a turn is produced consisting entirely of repeated items (within-turn repeats). The latter appears to be a form of palilalia (repeats of one's on)own prior talk) that has not been widely reported in ASD. The prior turn repeats follow other speaker's initiating actions (e.g. questions) that are addressed specifically to Helen and make a response from her relevant. Helen apparently uses these to demonstrate that she has nevertheless heard, and is orienting to, that prior turn. Within-turn repeats are tied to and bounded by the accomplishment of non-vocal activities, e.g. handing an object to a co-participant, such that the repetitions cease when the object has reached its recipient," wrote P. Stribling and colleagues, Roehampton University. The researchers concluded: "The two forms of repetition frequently co-occur to display on-going engagement with a recipient's prior turn." Stribling and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders (Two forms of spoken repetition in a girl with autism. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 2007;42(4):427-444). For additional information, contact P. Stribling, Roehampton University, Whitelands College, School Human & Life Science, Center Research Cogin Emot & Interact, London SW15 4JD, UK. The publisher's contact information for the International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders is: Taylor & Francis Ltd., 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, Oxon, England. Keywords: United Kingdom, London, Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Neurology, Roehampton University. This article was prepared by Mental Health Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Mental Health Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
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