University of Virginia research links neural noise to speech understanding challenges in autistic youth

Researchers at the University of Virginia have identified higher neural noise as a potential factor behind communication difficulties in autistic children and teenagers, paving the way for more tailored support and biomarkers for speech comprehension.

Researchers at the University of Virginia say they have identified a possible reason why some autistic children and teenagers struggle more than others to understand speech. Writing in Scientific Reports, the team linked those communication differences to what Kevin Pelphrey, a UVA School of Medicine professor, described as higher levels of “neural noise” during listening tasks, a pattern that may interfere with how speech is processed. This builds on earlier work from Pelphrey and colleagues showing that autism is associated with distinct differences in social perception and auditory processing, particularly when the brain is trying to make sense of spoken language in real time.

Pelphrey compared the effect to static on a radio signal, saying the brain is less able to tune in cleanly when the background activity is too high. The broader idea fits with a growing body of autism research showing that difficulties in communication are not uniform, but may reflect different neural mechanisms across individuals. Studies co-authored by Pelphrey in recent years have examined how autistic children process speech and non-speech sounds, how they respond to speech in noisy settings, and how patterns in brain activity can relate to verbal communication ability.

The significance of the latest work is that it moves the field beyond description and towards measurement, according to the UVA researcher. If scientists can quantify neural noise, they may be better able to identify which children need specific support, and to tailor teaching or therapy more precisely. Related research from the team suggests that altered brain activity during speech perception could potentially serve as a biomarker for communication skills in autism, offering a more objective way to understand why some people struggle more than others.

Pelphrey also said the findings may help explain anxiety, particularly in situations where a person is trying to follow speech in a crowded or overwhelming environment. The study is continuing, with work also taking place at Children’s National Hospital, and the researchers are still looking for participants. According to WTOP, the team has widened the age range for its research to include younger children and young adults, and is also exploring whether the same methods can shed light on healthy brain ageing.