Reading comprehension is a critical skill for academic success, yet it poses significant challenges for many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Recent research titled Reading comprehension differences between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and low cognitive abilities and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and intact cognitive skills: the roles of decoding, fluency and morphosyntax sheds light on the factors influencing reading comprehension in children with ASD, particularly those with varying cognitive abilities.
Key Findings from the Research
The study divided participants into two groups: children with ASD and intact cognitive skills, and children with ASD and low cognitive abilities. The researchers assessed the children across four reading subdomains: decoding, fluency, morphosyntax, and reading comprehension.
- Decoding: Both groups showed strengths in word and pseudoword decoding, indicating that phonological reading strategies are relatively preserved in children with ASD.
- Fluency: Children with intact cognitive skills performed better in fluency tasks compared to their peers with low cognitive abilities.
- Morphosyntax: Children with intact cognitive skills scored higher in morphosyntactic tasks, including compound word production and sentence formulation.
- Reading Comprehension: Children with intact cognitive skills exhibited better reading comprehension, driven by their fluency and morphosyntactic abilities. In contrast, children with low cognitive abilities relied more on their decoding skills.
Implications for Practitioners
The findings suggest that practitioners should tailor their interventions based on the cognitive profiles of children with ASD. Here are some actionable strategies:
- Focus on Fluency: For children with intact cognitive skills, enhancing fluency through repeated reading and timed exercises can significantly improve reading comprehension.
- Develop Morphosyntactic Skills: Engage children in activities that involve sentence formulation and compound word production to boost their morphosyntactic awareness.
- Strengthen Decoding: For children with low cognitive abilities, emphasize decoding skills through phonics-based interventions and pseudoword reading exercises.
- Incorporate Metalinguistic Activities: Use tasks that require metalinguistic judgment, such as identifying real words from pseudowords, to enhance comprehension skills.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to explore the neural correlates of reading comprehension in children with ASD. Understanding the underlying mechanisms can inform more targeted interventions.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Reading comprehension differences between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and low cognitive abilities and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and intact cognitive skills: the roles of decoding, fluency and morphosyntax.
