Getting the Word “Out”: A Role for the Motor System in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Purpose Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) lacks a clear neurobiological marker, and hundreds of genes appear to be implicated in the disorder. Numerous studies have reported deficits in reciprocal vocalization, vocal imitation, imitation of facial gestures, social gaze, and speech output early on in development in infants and young children at risk for or diagnosed with ASD. Method We examine these deficits in the context of a growing role for the motor system in communication deficits, a core feature of ASD. We draw on cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary models of speech and language to highlight the significance of a perceptuomotor link in neurodevelopmental disorders of speech and language. Interventions that target speech deficits by integrating articulatory awareness with phonetic feedback may hold tremendous promise for strengthening speech pathways in the brain and improving speech output in individuals with ASD. Conclusion The findings call for greater interdisciplinary collaboration that harnesses clinical expertise across social, verbal, and motor domains in early treatment approaches with individuals on the autism spectrum.