Correlating derived relational responding with linguistic and cognitive ability in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Further TARPA-based testing of derived relations in children with ASD.
• Extended previous work with a larger sample and new correlates (e.g., SB5).
• Strong correlations found between the TARPA and both the PLS-4 and SB5.
• Strong test – retest reliability found for the TARPA.
• Further evidence of differences in visual and auditory performance in ASD.

Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) show substantial deficits in linguistic and cognitive ability. When considered from the perspective of Relational Frame Theory (RFT), it is possible that these deficits are rooted in a deficiency in the capacity to derive relations. One key aim of the Training and Assessment of Relational Precursors and Abilities (TARPA) protocol is to assess derived relational responding. A number of previous studies have shown correlations between TARPA performance and linguistic ability in children with ASD. The current study has extended this work by (i) showing correlations between TARPA performance and cognitive as well as linguistic ability in a larger (n = 35) sample of children with ASD; (ii) providing evidence of TARPA test–retest reliability; (iii) providing additional evidence indicating differences in visual and auditory performance in children with ASD.