Relationship between metaphor comprehension and theory of mind in children with autism spectrum disorder
LI Fan
LIN Keyu
XIAO Yongtao
Abstract：Objective To investigate the relationship between metaphor comprehension and theory of mind in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).
Methods A total of 50 children with ASD(ASD group)and 50 age-and gender-matched typically developing(TD)chil-dren(TD group)were recruited from special education institutions in Hangzhou between August,2023 and No-vember,2024.Metaphor comprehension was assessed using a visual picture paradigm,covering conceptual,shape,appearance and mixed metaphors.The theory of mind was assessed using unexpected content/place tasks.
Results The total score of metaphor comprehension was lower in ASD group than in TD group(Z=-5.625,P<0.001),particularly for shape,appearance and mixed metaphors(|Z|>5.625,P<0.01);as well as the scores of theory of mind(|Z|>5.255,P<0.001).There was positive correlation between the total score of theory of mind and total score(r=0.352,P<0.05),shape score(r=0.299,P<0.05)and mixed score(r=0.330,P<0.05)of metaphor comprehension.Regression analyses showed that the total score of theory of mind positively predicted total score(β=0.310,P<0.05),shape score(β=0.103,P<0.05)and mixed score(β=0.330,P<0.05)of metaphor com-prehension.
Conclusion Children with ASD delayed in metaphor comprehension,which associates with deficits in theory of mind.
Keywords：autism spectrum disordermetaphor comprehensiontheory of mindlanguage rehabilitation
Publication Date：2025-04-25
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 484-489 )