Definition
Odd patterns of vocal intonation can be referred to as “singsong,” a term which generally describes a speech style with a wide pitch range with large rises and falls. It should be noted that this term is somewhat imprecise as it is also occasionally used to describe a very different style of speech with a particularly narrow pitch range, as in a poetry reading, or speech produced to the tune of a preferred song. In all cases, this term is used to indicate that speech has a quality that is different from the typical melodic patterns of conversation. Some individuals with ASD have been noted to have a “singsong” style of speaking, with exaggerated or theatrical-sounding prosodic patterns.
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References and Reading
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Edelson-Fries, L. (2021). Singsong. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_1818
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_1818
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