| Children with autism have been evidenced to identify and code information based on shape, size, color, and spatial location. Once it is determined which visual information system is best utilized by children with autism, Speech Language Pathologists can use this information to determine which alternative communication system should be used in speech and language therapy. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine which visual parameters children with autism may rely on most to process visual spatial information. In this study it is hypothesized that children with autism will primarily use the spatial aspect of shape to code information, rather than other visual information presented such as color, patterns, etc. In the present investigation, the performance of children with ASD (n=10) was compared to a language-matched control group (n=10) of typically developing children. The children were given 10 matching-puzzle activities to complete. For each of the 10 boards, the child was given a puzzle piece and six choices to match his or her puzzle piece with. Every choice presented various similarities and differences in pattern, size, and shape to the piece that he or she was holding. The child's performance was assessed according to how they match together the puzzles pieces, i.e. which type of visual information they use primarily. Findings indicate that children with ASD attended more to shape and were better puzzle solvers than the typically developing group. Findings and therapeutic implications will be discussed. |
