Uh, Um, and Autism: Filler Disfluencies as Pragmatic Markers in Adolescents with Optimal Outcomes from Autism Spectrum Disorder
Open accessAbstract
Filler disfluencies--uh and um--are thought to serve distinct discourse functions. We examined fillers in spontaneous speech by youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who struggle with pragmatic language, and by youth with ASD who have achieved an 'optimal outcome' (OO), as well as in peers with typical development (TD). While uh rates did not differ, participants with ASD produced um less frequently than OO or TD groups. Um rate was associated with autism symptom severity, but not executive function or language abilities, suggesting that um serves a pragmatic, listener-oriented function. Moreover, in contrast to minimal production in ASD, the typical OO um production substantiates the normalization of subtle social communication in this population.
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UM use by 8- to 21-year-olds normalizes when overall ASD symptoms drop off.
“Subsequent research showed that UM use by 8- to 21-year-olds normalizes when overall ASD symptoms drop off [28, 46], again lending support to the hypothesis that UM is associated with social competence.”
From Linguistic camouflage in girls with autism spectrum disorder (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
Prior research shows that children and adolescents with ASD produce more fillers when cognitive demands are high.
“Prior research shows that children and adolescents with ASD produce more fillers when cognitive demands are high [28]”
From Linguistic camouflage in girls with autism spectrum disorder (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
Unusually low UM ratios have been reported in children/adolescents with ASD.
“Unusually low UM ratios have been reported in children/adolescents with ASD [28]”
From Linguistic camouflage in girls with autism spectrum disorder (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
We analyzed UM/UH data from the largest group of individuals with ASD reported to date (65 in this study vs. 50 in [24] and 24 in [28]).
“We analyzed UM/UH data from the largest group of individuals with ASD reported to date (65 in this study vs. 50 in [24] and 24 in [28]).”
From Linguistic camouflage in girls with autism spectrum disorder (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
Our results are based on longer language samples than prior research (e.g., 20 min vs. 60 s in [28]).
“Our results are based on longer language samples than prior research (e.g., 20 min vs. 60 s in [28]).”
From Linguistic camouflage in girls with autism spectrum disorder (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
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References 41 · Cited by 70
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV-TR (IV-TR ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
- Semel E, Wiig EH, & Secord WA (2003). Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (4th ed.). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment, Inc.
- Wechsler D (1999). Manual for the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (1 ed.). New York: Pearson Psychological Corporation.
- Authors
- Irvine, C. A., Eigsti, I.-M., & Fein, D. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Corresponding author
- Eigsti, Inge-Marie
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2015-11-19
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1061-1070
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- PMC
- PMC7536647
- OpenAlex
- W2178954357
- Cited by
- 70
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 2.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Mental Health (R01 MH076189)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Stuttering Research and Treatment
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, um, pragmatic language, spontaneous speech, adolescents, autism severity, social communication, executive function, language skills
- MeSH terms
- Social Communication Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Aptitude, Child, Communication, Female, Humans, Language, Male, Photic Stimulation, Young Adult, Executive Function
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