Computer-based assessment of reading comprehension in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD)
The aim of this study is to precise the reading comprehension deficit of high functioning children with autism spectrum disorders (HFASD). Ten children with HFASD have been tested in decoding, listening and silent reading comprehension tasks (literal, text-connecting and knowledge-based inferences) using a computerized assessment. A dissociation was expected with preserved decoding skills and low comprehension processes especially for inferential processing. The large heterogeneity in children with HFASD performances did not permit to find this dissociation, however, they all present difficulties in at least one of the reading processing. Despite the lack of generalizability of results due to the restricted sample, this study emphasizes the need to evaluate precisely reading skills in children with HFASD in order to understand their difficulties and be able to offer them appropriate remediation.