Heterogeneity in autistic and neurotypical children: implications for studies of child pragmatics

Join us for our next LuCiD seminar, featuring an online talk on Tuesday, 10th June 2025 (11 am UK time - via Zoom). Dr Kirsten Abbot-Smith (University of Kent) who will talk about "Heterogeneity in autistic and neurotypical children: implications for studies of child pragmatics."

Abstract: Pragmatics – the verbal component of social communication - refers to how language is used to communicate. The pragmatics of autistic children is often framed in terms of deficit. Yet, autism is a nebulous and behaviourally-defined construct. Moreover, children with an autism diagnosis are extremely heterogenous – as indeed are neurotypical children. In this talk, I challenge deficit-based narratives by highlighting meaningful similarities between autistic and neurotypical children in terms of: (1) their own pragmatic usage, (2) how the pragmatic usage of others influences their desire to interact with them, (3) the socio-cognitive factors which relate to individual differences within each diagnostic group and (4) the motivational factors, such as interest intensity, which create context-dependent intra-individual differences. Importantly, child heterogeneity in pragmatics – particularly in their conversational ability – has consequences for peer acceptance, frequency of social interaction and – long term – vocational success.  For this reason, we have developed the Conversations for Social Interaction programme, a classroom-based intervention designed to empower teachers to scaffold and support social communication in all children—regardless of diagnostic status.

How to join the seminar: Please note that, this seminar will only be online via Zoom. You should have received your Zoom link if you are on our email list. Alternatively, get in touch to request the zoom link and don't forget to join the seminar mailing list.

As always, the seminar is free to attend, and booking isn't required.