Signaling of noncomprehension in communication breakdowns in fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.
The ability to indicate a failure to understand a message is a critical pragmatic (social) language skill for managing communication breakdowns and supporting successful communicative exchanges. The current study examined the ability to signal noncomprehension across different types of confusing message conditions in children and adolescents with fragile X syndrome (FXS), Down syndrome (DS), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and typical development (TD). Controlling for nonverbal mental age and receptive vocabulary skills, youth with comorbid FXS and ASD and those with DS were less likely than TD controls to signal noncomprehension of confusing messages. Youth with FXS without ASD and those with idiopathic ASD did not differ from controls. No sex differences were detected in any group. Findings contribute to current knowledge of pragmatic profiles in different forms of genetically-based neurodevelopmental disorders associated with intellectual disability, and the role of sex in the expression of such profiles.


LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this article, readers will have learned about: (1) the social-communicative profiles of youth with FXS, DS, and ASD, (2) the importance of signaling noncomprehension in response to a confusing message, and (3) the similarities and differences in noncomprehension signaling in youth with FXS (with and without ASD), DS, idiopathic ASD, and TD.
['Martin|Gary E|GE|', 'Barstein|Jamie|J|', 'Hornickel|Jane|J|', 'Matherly|Sara|S|', 'Durante|Genna|G|', 'Losh|Molly|M|']
D000293:Adolescent D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder D002648:Child D003142:Communication D032882:Comprehension D003221:Confusion D004314:Down Syndrome D005600:Fragile X Syndrome D006801:Humans D007802:Language D007807:Language Tests
Noncomprehension Communication breakdown Fragile X syndrome Down syndrome Autism spectrum disorder Pragmatic language