Comparing narrative storytelling ability in individuals with autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Background: Narrative discourse, or storytelling, is used in daily conversation and requires higher-level language and social communication skills that are not always captured by standardised assessments of language. Many autistic individuals and individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have difficulties with both social communication and language skills, and narrative discourse analysis offers an ecologically relevant approach to assessing those challenges.

Aims: This study investigated narrative discourse in individuals with autism and FASD, as well as an age- and sex-matched comparison group.