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Automated analysis of pragmatic language development in ASD

Award Number: R21DC017000
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2018
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2022

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Automated analysis of pragmatic language development in ASD - Contact PD/PI: Prud'hommeaux, Emily PROJECT SUMMARY Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with life-long deficits in communication and social engagement. Among these deficits is impaired pragmatic expression, or the inappropriate use of language in a given context. Because of the pragmatic difficulties they experience, individuals with ASD face challenges in establishing interpersonal relationships, maintaining satisfactory employment, and achieving independence. Despite the impact that deficits in pragmatic expression have on the outcomes of individuals with ASD, researchers do not agree on precisely what functions are impaired, particularly in high-functioning adults. Analyzing spontaneous spoken language is the most effective way to reveal these impairments, but the resources and expertise required for such analysis have thus far made this approach impractical. In this project, we propose using computational language analysis methods to convert speech into text transcripts and to automatically identify specific areas of pragmatic deficit in those transcripts. We explore these methods using spoken language data we will collect from high-functioning verbal adults with ASD and with typical development. In the course of this project, we will investigate: (1) the precise pragmatic functions that are affected in high- functioning adults with ASD; (2) the extent to which these and other reported pragmatic deficits are observed in individuals with ASD regardless of age; and (3) the accuracy of our novel computational methods for extracting these metrics from spontaneous spoken language samples. While achieving these aims, we will explore the utility of automated analysis of spoken language, setting the stage for a future proposal to develop an automated software tool for analyzing spoken language to identify specific areas of deficit in pragmatic expression. A tool for automatically identifying strengths and weaknesses in pragmatic expression could offer utility not only to researchers investigating language functioning in ASD but also to clinicians tasked with diagnosis and health professionals working to develop targeted therapies and interventions. Such interventions could lead to more favorable social outcomes for individuals of all ages with ASD and higher rates of employment among adults with ASD, potentially yielding reductions in costs associated with and resources allocated for serving the needs of this special population. Project Summary/Abstract Page 6


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = -$23,736 )
2023	2021	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	1/9/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$23,736
														Subtotal = -$23,736

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $32,704 )
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	3	8/2/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$7,648
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	7/2/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$25,056
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	004	3	8/31/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2021	2020	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	7/2/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2021	2020	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	003	3	8/31/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $32,704

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $161,689 )
2020	2020	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	6/28/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$161,689
														Subtotal = $161,689

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $161,149 )
2019	2019	BOSTON COLLEGE, TRUSTEES OF	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	6/5/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$161,149
														Subtotal = $161,149

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $174,443 )
2018	2018	BOSTON COLLEGE, TRUSTEES OF	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	7/20/2018	NEW	$0
2018	2018	BOSTON COLLEGE, TRUSTEES OF	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	7/10/2018	NEW	$174,443
														Subtotal = $174,443

Grand Total All Awards = $506,249

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Automated analysis of pragmatic language development in ASD

Award Number: R21DC017000

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2018

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2022

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