Doctoral student Orla Putnam’s research will examine prosody, which is the rhythm, tone, and pattern used during spoken language in males and females with and without autism, and will compare prosody to assessments of social function and interest. Results will inform caregivers, educators, and clinicians when considering a possible autism diagnosis for girls.

Orla Putnam, a Ph.D. student in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, has received a pre-doctoral fellowship from the Autism Science Foundation.

Her project, “Identifying Speech Prosody Markers and Patterns in Females to Improve Diagnosis,” will examine prosody, which is the rhythm, tone, and pattern used during spoken language in males and females with and without autism, and will compare prosody to assessments of social function and interest.

The study’s results will inform caregivers, educators, and clinicians when considering a possible autism diagnosis for girls.

From UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine Newsroom (May 24, 2023)