Impairment or difference? The case of Theory of Mind abilities and pragmatic competence in the Autism Spectrum

Abstract Psycholinguistic research on pragmatics in the neurotypical population has increasingly framed pragmatic competence and related cognitive skills terms of individual differences, co-constructed discourse, meaning negotiation. However, Autism Spectrum risen from a wide biased view autistic communication as fundamentally compromised abilities impaired. Mostly due to impactful theory deficit Theory Mind, early presumed unitary impairment, only find that several seem be “preserved.” interpretation these findings usually takes an ableist turn, most studies subsequently suggest surface-level performance should not interpreted competence, but rather result “compensatory” strategies. The raising number contributions academics participatory enriched field with new perspectives focusing differences than impairments drawing hypotheses difficulties between neurotypes within specific neurotype. such are hardly ever cited prominent works. In conclusion, would benefit higher level citation autistic-led epistemological perspective shift mostly academic community.