Relationship between Social Cognition, Language, Executive Functioning and Theory of Mind Ability in High-Functioning Autism

Whereas it is generally accepted that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have deficits in theory of mind, or the ability to understand that other people have thoughts and to infer or predict what those thoughts might be, the relationship of this deficit to other aspects of ASD is still debated. This study examined the relationship between measures of social cognition, language, and the specific executive functions of working memory and cognitive flexibility, and measures of ToM using a large sample of 272 children and adults with high-functioning autism (HFA). The results of a series of hierarchical linear regression models indicated that the strongest relationship occurred between a general measure of language ability (Verbal IQ) and two different measures of ToM. In both children and adults with ASD, ToM abilities appear to be related to overall language abilities rather than a more generalized ability in social cognition or executive function.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Wendelken, Meghan E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Diane Williams
• Holly Gastgeb
• Lori Marra

• Autism
• Executive function
• Language
• Social cognition
• Theory of mind

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1355

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2371