Contents:
- What is speech prosody?
- Prosody and autism
- Autism and Asperger’s syndrome and speech development
- How do prosodic disorders affect communication?
- Prosody in children – early signs
- Echolalia and an idiosyncratic speaking style
- Emotions, expression and expressing feelings
- Therapy and support relating to prosody
- Summary
- Related articles
Speech is not just about words and a rich vocabulary, but also about the way we say them. The pace, intonation, stress, rhythm and modulation of our voice enable the listener to understand our intentions and emotions.
This is precisely the area that prosody deals with. In the context of neurodiversity, such as autism, this topic is particularly important, as the prosody of speech has a huge impact on communication and social relationships.
In this article, we explain what prosody is, what speech prosody is like in autism and Asperger’s syndrome, how it affects speech development in children and adults, and how therapy can support better communication.
What is speech prosody?
Prosody is a set of suprasegmental features of language that lend emotional and pragmatic meaning to speech. It encompasses intonation – changes in pitch – stress and emphatic stress, the rhythm and tempo of speech, and the volume and timbre of the voice.
As a result, prosody enables us to distinguish a question from a statement, a joke from irony, or a protest from a request. It is prosody that determines whether a message is perceived as neutral or emotional.
Prosody and autism
Speech prosody disorders are very commonly observed on the autism spectrum. Autism affects the way linguistic and social information is processed, which is why speech may sound different from that of neurotypical people.
In people with autism, prosody can be monotonous – described as speaking in a monotonous voice – or excessively sing-song, or with idiosyncratic intonation; it may be irregular in terms of rhythm and tempo, and may also be inappropriate to the emotional context.
This way of speaking is sometimes described as an ‘autistic’ style of speech and often leads to problems with social communication.
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Autism and Asperger’s syndrome and speech development
In the case of autism and Asperger’s syndrome, language development can vary considerably. In some children, speech development is delayed, whilst in others it occurs early but with atypical prosody.
Children with Asperger’s syndrome often start speaking at an early age and have a rich vocabulary, but they display deficits in prosody and the pragmatic aspects of language.
Children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, on the other hand, may find it difficult to understand irony, metaphors and idioms, to adapt their intonation to the situation, and to emphasise their speech naturally. Children with autism may also exhibit echolalia, which is the repetition of phrases they have heard without fully understanding their meaning.
How do prosodic disorders affect communication?
Problems with prosody mean that even a grammatically correct utterance can be misinterpreted. Listeners may find it difficult to understand the speaker’s emotions, to tell whether someone is joking or being serious, and to gauge their level of engagement in the conversation.
This leads to difficulties in communication and, not infrequently, to social withdrawal. Difficulties with turn-taking in conversation mean that people on the spectrum are sometimes perceived as rude or unengaged, even though their intentions are quite different.
Prosody in children – early signs
In typical development, a baby begins to babble, modulating their voice and experimenting with intonation. For children on the spectrum, things are often different. Signs such as limited babbling, an unusual rhythm of sounds and a lack of natural speech melody are common.
Parents often wonder when their children should start speaking. It is worth bearing in mind that some children develop speech later, but in autism the differences relate not only to timing but also to the quality of prosody.
Echolalia and an idiosyncratic speaking style
Echolalia can serve various functions – ranging from regulating emotions to attempting to make contact. The utterances may be idiosyncratic in nature, meaning they are mainly understandable to the child themselves. The prosody of such utterances can sometimes be difficult for those around them to interpret.
In addition, children and adults on the spectrum may impose their own topics of conversation, find it difficult to match their intonation to the meaning of what they are saying, combine gestures with speech in unusual ways, and avoid eye contact, all of which exacerbate difficulties in understanding the message.
Emotions, expression and expressing feelings
Expressing emotions through speech is closely linked to prosody. In autism, a discrepancy between content and form is often observed. A person may speak of joy, but without the appropriate intonation, the message does not come across as emotional.
Difficulties in expressing and understanding other people’s emotions affect relationships and day-to-day communication, as well as the ability to communicate in a way that is satisfactory to both parties.
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We carry out a comprehensive psychological assessment of the autism spectrum — thoroughly, providing a complete picture of the child’s potential and recommendations for the school.
Therapy and support relating to prosody
The good news is that speech and language therapy and psychological therapy can effectively support the development of prosody. The programme includes exercises in intonation and rhythm, learning to use stress within a sentence, combining speech with gestures and facial expressions, and developing an understanding of emotional context.
Early intervention is crucial, but therapy is also effective for teenagers and adults. It supports not only speech, but also communication as a whole and social relationships.
Summary
Prosody is an integral part of language and one of the key areas in which autism affects day-to-day functioning. Unusual speech prosody, prosodic disorders, echolalia or an idiosyncratic style of speech can lead to problems with social communication, but appropriate therapy and an understanding of the mechanisms behind these difficulties can significantly improve the quality of communication.
Recognising that the way someone speaks is part of neurodiversity helps to create a more empathetic and supportive environment – for both children and adults on the spectrum.
Bibliography:
- American Psychiatric Association (2013). DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC.
- Bishop, D. V. M., & McDonald, D. (2009). Identifying language impairment in children: combining language test scores with parental reports. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders.
- Paul, R., Augustyn, A., Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. (2005). Perception and production of prosody by speakers with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
- McCann, J., & Peppé, S. (2003). Prosody in autism spectrum disorders: a critical review. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders.
- Shriberg, L. D. et al. (2001). Speech and prosodic characteristics of adolescents and adults with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research.
- Attwood, T. (2015). The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Rapin, I., & Dunn, M. (2003). An update on language disorders in individuals on the autism spectrum. Brain and Development.
- Tager-Flusberg, H. (2006). Defining language phenotypes in autism. Clinical Neuroscience Research.
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