Slower Sound and Language Processing Speed Could Account for Communication Delays in Autism
Faint magnetic signals from brain activity in children with autism show that those children process sound and language differently from non-autistic children. Identifying and classifying these brain response patterns may allow researchers to more accurately diagnose autism and possibly aid in developing more effective treatments for the developmental disorder.The article suggested that treatment for this brain difference could be forthcoming. But for those of you who are knowledgeable in this field, I wonder whether you have any thoughts about techniques to increase the speed of language processing in the brain? For example - could neurofeedback techniques make a difference?Timing appears to be crucial. "Children with autism respond a fraction of a second more slowly than healthy children to vowel sounds and tones," said study leader Timothy Roberts, Ph.D., vice chair of radiology research and holder of the Oberkircher Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Radiology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Roberts used a technology called magnetoencephalography (MEG), which detects magnetic fields in the brain, just as electroencephalography (EEG) detects electrical fields.
Roberts presented his findings today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago. "The brain's electrical signals generate tiny magnetic fields, which change with each sensation, and with communication among different locations in the brain," he added. Roberts is working to develop "neural signatures" that can link recorded brain activity to particular behaviors in children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs), which are characterized by impaired development in communications and social functioning. "Our hypothesis is that speech and other sounds come in too fast for children with ASDs, and their difficulties in processing sound may impair their language and communication skills," said Roberts.
I look forward to your thoughts!
Comments
I find this very interesting. My daughter does this thing where I’ll ask her a question or comment on something and she remains silent. I just leave it alone, thinking she doesn’t want to talk about it or answer the question. Ten minutes, or even two days later, she’ll come up and answer the question or respond to my comment. I usually have no idea what she’s talking about and she has to remind me of our “conversation” and I have to think hard to remember!
Also, this article made me think about how a lot of kids with autism are able to hear and remember the lyrics to songs or movies and repeat them back when it takes me forever to really hear the lines to songs or movies because the characters or musicians sing or say so much so quickly. Nothing really solid here that I’m saying, it just made me think of this ability our kids have to not understand a few words we say to them, but can totally capture an entire song – maybe I should start singing to my daughter!
Her dad does it with her because he’s silly like that and they actually “talk” quite well like that.
My autistic son has been diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder. His hearing is near perfect (he has perfect pitch musically-more later)but he has poor auditory memory and has difficulty separateing desired sounds from background noise. His Doctor, a Developmental Pediatric Neurologist says he sees this disorder often in Autistic kids and thinks it may be more responsible for his specific behaviors than his Autism!
Also, he has perfect pitch and a beautiful singing voice. He learns melodies almost in one hearing and lyrics much faster than the spoken word. Since we process music in a different part of the brain than language, it’s fascinating, but no surprise Laura’s daughter and my son learn “musical” words faster than “spoken” words.
More on Auditory Processing Disorder and other thoughts:
We did not get specific recommendation, but did a lot of web searches. Some clinics offer “Integrated Listening Therapy”. You might want to look into it.
We were told the therapist would use headphones extensively and afterward Charlie couldn’t use headphones ever again. We decided against it because music and singing are so important to him–even with autism, he sings in mutiple choirs. His autism is considered mild to moderate and he is very bright despite several specific learning disabilities and developmental delay.
We (our family, teachers, etc)find he does so much better if we speak a little slower, use short, simple sentences, wait for eye or facial cues that it registered, and then another short sentence.
I saw this article too and to me it’s just scientific evidence of what I’ve been told all along. Since my son’s dx I have been told to speak slowly and give clear directions, and he always responds best when I’m speaking directly to him, not calling from a different room.
I think the reason kids pick up songs/TV scripts quicker is the affect and/or visual supporting it. I’m not sure about music being processed in a different part of the brain. I was told that too, but also read in one of Dr. Greenspan’s books that checking to see if a child can sing back a simple rhythm is a way to see if they have an auditory processing disorder, so I wonder if it’s true.
Charlie was diagnosed through a battery of tests, not anecdotal evidence. His hearing is excellent, his eardrums work near perfectly. It’s the way his brain PROCESSES sound that is dysfunctional. In a visually isolated sound booth using headphones, he hears, repeats and remembers single words, double, triple even four words at a time, but at five words his auditory memory begins to fail. With complete background silence he hears and distinguishes nearly all sounds and words, but begins to fail when background noises were introduced.
The brain DOES process music differently than language, it has been clinically shown. But I wouldn’t expect clear results from just singing to a child. When Charlie was very little I noticed he failed to respond to the recited alphabet, but perked up if I sang it. Then I tried “Twinkle, twinkle little star” (same tune) and no response. Interesting, but proves nothing by itself.
We’ve all heard about autistic kids who hear or see perfectly, but because of their autism WON’T respond. I’ve read of researchers who think these kids may be even more highly aware.
But if a child doesn’t respond in a nonclinical setting, I wouldn’t even guess why not. And a teaching technique that works for one child may not work for another and even if it does, it might not be for the same reason. The brain is complex as is, let alone with autism.
That’s why his doctor said his APD “may” be responsible for autistic-like behavior. Who knows how many undiagnosed issues are at play? As we all know, our kids are individuals regardless of autism, or any other disorder.