Auditory Pitch Perception in Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Associated With Nonverbal Abilities
Abstract
Atypical sensory perception and heterogeneous cognitive profiles are common features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous findings on auditory sensory processing in ASD are mixed. Accordingly, auditory perception and its relation to cognitive abilities in ASD remain poorly understood. Here, children with ASD, and age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched typically developing children, were tested on a low- and a higher level pitch processing task. Verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities were measured using the Wechsler’s Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. There were no group differences in performance on either auditory task or IQ measure. However, there was significant variability in performance on the auditory tasks in both groups that was predicted by nonverbal, not verbal skills. These results suggest that auditory perception is related to nonverbal reasoning rather than verbal abilities in ASD and typically developing children. In addition, these findings provide evidence for preserved pitch processing in school-age children with ASD with average IQ, supporting the idea that there may be a subgroup of individuals with ASD that do not present perceptual or cognitive difficulties. Future directions involve examining whether similar perceptual-cognitive relationships might be observed in a broader sample of individuals with ASD, such as those with language impairment or lower IQ.
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No differences were found between low and higher level pitch processing when ASD children were matched in terms of IQ levels and verbal and non-verbal cognitive abilities.
“Interestingly, no differences were found between low and higher level pitch processing (Chowdhury et al. 2017) when ASD children were matched in terms of IQ levels and verbal and non-verbal cognitive abilities, as measured by WASI subtests yield (Wechsler and Kodama 1949).”
From Autism Spectrum Disorder and auditory sensory alterations: a systematic review on the integrity of cognitive and neuronal functions related to auditory processing (2023) · cites this paper as Chowdhury et al. 2017
Cites
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Enhanced Perceptual Functioning in Autism: An Update, and Eight Principles of Autistic Perception
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Sex differences in autism spectrum disorders
Werling, D. M., & Geschwind, D. H. (2013) · Current Opinion in Neurology · doi:10.1097/wco.0b013e32835ee548 · Cited by 1,245 · see citing works
Twenty‐year outcome for individuals with autism and average or near‐average cognitive abilities
Farley, M. A., McMahon, W. M., Fombonne, E., Jenson, W. R., Miller, J., Gardner, M., Block, H., Pingree, C. B., Ritvo, E. R., Ritvo, R. A., et al. (2009) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.69 · Cited by 515 · see citing works
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Joseph, R. M., Tager‐Flusberg, H., & Lord, C. (2002) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/1469-7610.00092 · Cited by 503 · cited 3× · see citing works
“Individuals with ASD demonstrate mixed cognitive profiles (Black et al., 2009; Charman et al., 2005; Farley et al., 2009; Joseph et al., 2002; Koyama, Tachimori, Osada, Takeda, & Kurita, 2007).”
BackgroundPitch discrimination in the early blind
Gougoux, F., Lepore, F., Lassonde, M., Voss, P., Zatorre, R. J., & Belin, P. (2004) · Nature · doi:10.1038/430309a · Cited by 422 · see citing works
Baum, S. H., Stevenson, R. A., & Wallace, M. T. (2015) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.09.007 · Cited by 370 · see citing works
Mayes, S. D., & Calhoun, S. L. (2003) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1024462719081 · Cited by 319 · cited 2× · see citing works
“For instance, younger children with ASD may show a mixed profile of either poorer verbal abilities (Hudry et al., 2010) or in other cases enhanced nonverbal reasoning compared with TD (Mayes & Calhoun, 2003).”
BackgroundResultWechsler IQ profiles in diagnosis of high-functioning autism
Siegel, D. J., Minshew, N. J., & Goldstein, G. (1996) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf02172825 · Cited by 303 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Contrary to our hypothesis, the present findings also do not support previous research showing enhanced performance on the block design task in ASD (Caron et al., 2006; Gilchrist et al., 2001; Goldstein et al., 2010; Meilleur et al., 2014, 2015; Muth, Hönekopp, & Falter, 2014; Rumsey & Hamburger, 1988; Shah & Frith, 1…”
MethodResultVisuo-Spatial Performance in Autism: A Meta-analysis
Muth, A., Hönekopp, J., & Falter, C. M. (2014) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2188-5 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
The level and nature of autistic intelligence III: inspection time
Barbeau, E. B., Soulières, I., Dawson, M., Zeffiro, T. A., & Mottron, L. (2013) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0029984 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
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Gonçalves, A. M., & Monteiro, P. (2023) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-023-02595-9 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
- Authors
- Chowdhury, R., Sharda, M., Foster, N. E. V., Germain, E., Tryfon, A., Doyle-Thomas, K., Anagnostou, E., & Hyde, K. L.
- Affiliations
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (CA)
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Sharda, Megha
- Venue
- Perception
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-07-06
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1298-1320
- ISSN
- 0301-0066 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-4233
- OpenAlex
- W2726658222
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perception (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Williams Syndrome Research
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, nonverbal reasoning, verbal ability, auditory sensory processing, cognitive ability, typically developing children, elementary school students
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Child, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Pitch Perception, Thinking
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