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11-12-2015 | Original Paper

Distinctive Role of Symbolic Number Sense in Mediating the Mathematical Abilities of Children with Autism

Auteurs: Alexis Hiniker, Miriam Rosenberg-Lee, Vinod Menon

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 4/2016

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Abstract

Despite reports of mathematical talent in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), little is known about basic number processing abilities in affected children. We investigated number sense, the ability to rapidly assess quantity information, in 36 children with ASD and 61 typically developing controls. Numerical acuity was assessed using symbolic (Arabic numerals) as well as non-symbolic (dot array) formats. We found significant impairments in non-symbolic acuity in children with ASD, but symbolic acuity was intact. Symbolic acuity mediated the relationship between non-symbolic acuity and mathematical abilities only in children with ASD, indicating a distinctive role for symbolic number sense in the acquisition of mathematical proficiency in this group. Our findings suggest that symbolic systems may help children with ASD organize imprecise information.
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Metagegevens
Titel
Distinctive Role of Symbolic Number Sense in Mediating the Mathematical Abilities of Children with Autism
Auteurs
Alexis Hiniker
Miriam Rosenberg-Lee
Vinod Menon
Publicatiedatum
11-12-2015
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2666-4