Paths to Common Ground in ASD

Abstract

Common ground (CG), the shared contextual knowledge serving everyday situations like conversations, is crucial for effective communication. This study delved into CG generation between peers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, N = 84) compared to Controls (N = 56) children and adolescents (ages 6–16 years) paired into peer dyads. We aimed to deepen the understanding of the mechanism involved in CG efficacy among peers by exploring the roles of Theory of Mind (ToM) and Vocabulary in CG formation during play. Participants engaged in a structured task probing CG production in an ambiguous setting. Findings show that ASD and Control dyads generate CG spontaneously, yet the Control group demonstrated greater efficiency by achieving common conceptualization faster and with fewer words. Age and CG measures were correlated, outlining CG development, and Path analysis models suggested independent contributions from Vocabulary and ToM to CG efficiency. Limitations include the task's structured nature, precluding a comprehensive assessment of language and visual perception abilities. Taken together, the findings highlight the potential for interventions targeting CG acquisition in ASD, which is crucial for daily life participation. Interventions could harness cognitive processes like vocabulary and ToM to enhance dialogue efficacy among children with ASD.