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Memory Impairments and Communication in Relatively Able Autistic Children
Author(s) -
Boucher Jill,
Lewis Vicky
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00771.x
Subject(s) - psychology , autism , repetition (rhetorical device) , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , developmental disorder , linguistics , philosophy
Autistic people have specific memory difficulties. The effects of these difficulties on communication in relatively able autistic children and learning impaired controls were assessed in three experiments I he experiments tested the ability to: (1) carry out instructions; (2) ask questions without repetition; and (3) answer questions about past activities. When specific memory skills were required autistic children's communication was impaired relative to controls. When the need to use these skills was eliminated from the tasks the autistic children performed as well as controls, Some practical and theoretical Implications of the findings are discussed.