The Cognitive Science Colloquium Series is proud to present Aaron Shield, Ph.D.
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Miami University of Ohio
Sign Language and Autism at Miami (SL@M) Lab
Friday, November 1st, 4pm, Oak Hall 117
Dr. Shield will provide a talk entitled “Insights into cognitive and linguistic processes from research on autism and sign language”
Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss how research into the signed languages of the deaf has the power to illuminate big questions about human language. By comparing spoken and signed languages, we gain a better understanding of what language is, how children learn languages, and how to best characterize and treat language disorders. In particular, I will show how research into the acquisition of American Sign Language (ASL) by deaf children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) sheds new light on various questions about acquisition, such as how children imitate linguistic forms, how children use pronouns and other words that refer to self and other, and how language exposure may affect other aspects of cognition.
If you are interested in meeting with Dr. Shield, please contact Dr. Eigsti: inge-marie.eigsti@uconn.edu