Quality matters! Differences between expressive and receptive non-verbal communication skills in adolescents with ASD

We analyzed several studies of non-verbal communication (prosody and facial expressions) completed in our lab and conducted a secondary analysis to compare performance on receptive vs. expressive tasks by adolescents with ASD and their typically developing peers. Results show a significant between-group difference for the aggregate score of expressive tasks, but not for the aggregate score of receptive tasks. There was also a significant within-group difference among individuals with ASD for expressive vs. receptive performance. Our data indicate that adolescents with ASD can achieve receptive accuracy in non-verbal communication, but show significant qualitative deficits in expressive skills across a range of tasks, which may have a significant negative impact on their success as social communicators.

► We compared performance across receptive and expressive non-verbal tasks. ► Participants were adolescents with high-functioning autism and typical peers. ► Adolescents with ASD may have preserved receptive nonverbal skills. ► Adolescents with ASD have significant qualitative deficits in nonverbal expression. ► Qualitative expressive differences may create a barrier to social communication.