Segment interactions in autism

Abstract

The thesis presents preliminary findings of a project concerning segment interactions as found in the speech of six children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. The purpose of this thesis is threefold: (1) to provide an overview of linguistically, especially phonologically relevant findings in the autism literature, (2) to contribute to the field of autistic phonology with the field work and research on phonological processes characteristic of subjects on the autistic spectrum and (3) to capture relevant phonological processes that have been observed in autistic speech with the help of the Parallel Structures Model (Morén 2003a-b, 2006a-b, 2007a-c, Youssef 2007). Ultimately, two of the observed phonological processes – nasal and voicing disturbances and related phenomena – as well as their prevalence rates are discussed.