Language Abilities in Children with High-Functioning Pervasive Developmental Disorders

—From Analysis Using ITPA—

Abstract

Although the verbal IQs of children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorders (HFPDD) are normal, discrepancies exist between observed test values and actual situations. Using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA), this study investigated trends in 101 children with HFPDD in order to clarify communication and language problems in children with HFPDD. The results showed that while there was no significant delay found in all-test scaled scores, scores were lower in the categories of “Auditory Association,” “Verbal Expression” and “Grammatic Closure.” These differences reflect communication and language problems in children with HFPDD, and suggest problems of processing in the hearing/vocalization system, understanding contexts and performance in semantic categories.