Abstract
Difficulties with both executive functions and language skills are common but variable
in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Executive functions and language skills are related
to one another, such that vocabulary, syntax, and pragmatics are related to domains
of working memory, shifting, and inhibition in ASD, although the directionality of
these relationships remains unclear. Moreover, interventions that target pragmatic
ability have been found to improve executive function skills, and conversely, executive
function interventions are linked with improvements in social skills in children with
ASD. We review the literature on executive functions, language skills, and their relationship
in ASD; discuss factors that may be driving inconsistent findings; and explore clinical
applications from the research thus far.
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder - executive function - language - intervention
