A new study reveals that difficulties in adapting to changes in speech patterns may affect how adolescents with autism understand tone and meaning. Verbal communication isn't just about the words we use—it's also about how we say them. For example, the phrase "I can't believe it" can convey surprise if said with a rising intonation or it can express sarcasm if delivered with a flat tone.
Emphasizing different words or altering the tempo of speech can dramatically alter the message conveyed. Researchers have long known that interpreting these variations in speech can pose challenges for individuals with autism, but they didn't know exactly why. According to new research from the University of Rochester, it may be because their brains have difficulties processing and adapting to changes in speech patterns .
In a paper published in Scientific Reports , the researchers—including Chigusa Kurumada, an associate professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and Loisa Bennetto, an associate professor in the Departments of Psychology, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and Neuroscience—highlight a complex intersection of sensory processing and cognitive interpretation, offering new insights into the diverse ways people experience and interpret communication. Understanding speech prosody The researchers studied adolescents aged 12 to 17, with and without autism, and how each group understands speech prosody. Prosody refers to the use of changes in pitch, rhythm, volume,.