Multimodal speech perception in noise after multisensory perceptual training in autistic children and adolescents
Abstract
Autistic children and adolescents exhibit alterations in multisensory processing of simple audiovisual stimuli and complex speech stimuli. Multisensory perceptual training improves audiovisual simultaneity perception in typically developed adults, thereby facilitating speech comprehension in noise. We hypothesized that multisensory training would enhance audiovisual integration and speech comprehension in noise in autistic youth. A brief simultaneity judgment task (SJT) with feedback as the training paradigm was administered to a sample of autistic participants (aged 8–17). Simple audiovisual integration and speech comprehension were assessed before training (T0), immediately (T1), seven (T2) and 14 days (T3) after training. For simple audiovisual stimuli, changes in simultaneity judgements were observed at T1 and T2. At T1, these changes may reflect a shift in response criteria, whereas at T2, a narrower TBW and a steeper slope may indicate improved simultaneity perception. In a Word Recognition Task (WRT), no significant improvements were observed. This study suggests that multisensory training alters simultaneity judgement in a SJT in autistic youth, with the effects persisting seven days. Future studies should determine whether these effects reflect changes in response criteria or genuine improvements in simultaneity perception and determine how training paradigms must be adapted to enhance speech comprehension in autistic youth.
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BibTeX
@article{mode2026multimodal,
title = {{Multimodal speech perception in noise after multisensory perceptual training in autistic children and adolescents}},
author = {Laura Möde and Erfan Ghaneirad and Gregor R. Szycik and Hans Worthmann and Stefan Bleich and Anna Borgolte},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-75297-3},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75297-3},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Multimodal speech perception in noise after multisensory perceptual training in autistic children and adolescents
AU - Laura Möde
AU - Erfan Ghaneirad
AU - Gregor R. Szycik
AU - Hans Worthmann
AU - Stefan Bleich
AU - Anna Borgolte
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-75297-3
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75297-3
AB - Autistic children and adolescents exhibit alterations in multisensory processing of simple audiovisual stimuli and complex speech stimuli. Multisensory perceptual training improves audiovisual simultaneity perception in typically developed adults, thereby facilitating speech comprehension in noise. We hypothesized that multisensory training would enhance audiovisual integration and speech comprehension in noise in autistic youth. A brief simultaneity judgment task (SJT) with feedback as the training paradigm was administered to a sample of autistic participants (aged 8–17). Simple audiovisual integration and speech comprehension were assessed before training (T0), immediately (T1), seven (T2) and 14 days (T3) after training. For simple audiovisual stimuli, changes in simultaneity judgements were observed at T1 and T2. At T1, these changes may reflect a shift in response criteria, whereas at T2, a narrower TBW and a steeper slope may indicate improved simultaneity perception. In a Word Recognition Task (WRT), no significant improvements were observed. This study suggests that multisensory training alters simultaneity judgement in a SJT in autistic youth, with the effects persisting seven days. Future studies should determine whether these effects reflect changes in response criteria or genuine improvements in simultaneity perception and determine how training paradigms must be adapted to enhance speech comprehension in autistic youth.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -