Yonsei Med J.  2015 Nov;56(6):1613-1618. 10.3349/ymj.2015.56.6.1613.

Idiom Comprehension Deficits in High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a Korean Autism Social Language Task

• Lee SB
• Song SH
• Ham JH
• Song DH
• Cheon KA

• KMID: 2345890
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2015.56.6.1613

Abstract

PURPOSE
High-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves pragmatic impairment of language skills. Among numerous tasks for assessing pragmatic linguistic skills, idioms are important to evaluating high-functioning ASD. Nevertheless, no assessment tool has been developed with specific consideration of Korean culture. Therefore, we designed the Korean Autism Social Language Task (KASLAT) to test idiom comprehension in ASD. The aim of the current study was to introduce this novel psychological tool and evaluate idiom comprehension deficits in high-functioning ASD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The participants included 42 children, ages 6-11 years, who visited our child psychiatric clinic between April 2014 and May 2015. The ASD group comprised 16 children; the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) group consisted of 16 children. An additional 10 normal control children who had not been diagnosed with either disorder participated in this study. Idiom comprehension ability was assessed in these three groups using the KASLAT.
RESULTS
Both ASD and ADHD groups had significantly lower scores on the matched and mismatched tasks, compared to the normal control children (matched tasks mean score: ASD 11.56, ADHD 11.56, normal control 14.30; mismatched tasks mean score: ASD 6.50, ADHD 4.31, normal control 11.30). However, no significant differences were found in scores of KASLAT between the ADHD and ASD groups.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that children with ASD exhibit greater impairment in idiom comprehension, compared to normal control children. The KASLAT may be useful in evaluating idiom comprehension ability.

Keyword

High functioning autism spectrum disorder; comprehension of idiom; Korean Autism Social Language Task

MeSH Terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder/*diagnosis/psychology
Child
*Comprehension
Female
Humans
Language
Language Development Disorders/*diagnosis/psychology
Language Disorders/*psychology
Language Tests/*standards
Male
Reproducibility of Results

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Examples of matched tasks. (A) "This smells weird," means "I smell something fishy." (B) "Father became a pickled onion," means "about as limp as spring onion kimchi/dog-tired."

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  Fig. 2 Examples of mismatched tasks. (A) "He is digging his own grave," means "dig one's own grave." (B) "The crying fist," means "clench one's fist."

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  Fig. 3 Examples of neutral tasks. (A) "Sit with your two legs stretched forward," means "Sit with your legs straight." (B) "He shouted from the top of the mountain," means "He shouted from the top of the mountain."

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