3.1.2. Middle childhood level (10–12 years)
An ANOVA was used to determine if there was a significant difference among children with AspD, children with AD, and
children with TD in language comprehension at the middle childhood level (see Table 2). The result of the ANOVA test
showed that there was a significant difference among the three groups in language comprehension. A post hoc test (Games
Howell test) showed there was no significant difference between the AspD group and the TD group at the middle childhood
level in language comprehension.
A Chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in the percentages of the
children with above average language comprehension abilities and the children with below average language
comprehension abilities. Another Chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference between the percentage
of the children with above average language comprehension abilities and the percentage of the children with below average
language comprehension abilities in the AspD group. The last Chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference
between the percentage of the children with above average language comprehension abilities and the percentage of the
children with below average language comprehension abilities in the TD group.
3.2. Do children with AspD differ from children with AD in language comprehension as measured by the MTT?
3.2.1. Childhood level (7–9 years)
An ANOVA test found that there was a significant difference among children with AspD, children with AD, and children
with TD in language comprehension at the childhood level (see Table 2). A post hoc test (Games Howell test) showed children
with AspD had significantly higher language comprehension abilities than did children with AD (p < .001). Given that
children with AspD had significantly higher IQ than did children with AD (see Table 3), an ANCOVA was used to determine
the group difference in language comprehension by controlling for IQ. The result of the ANCOVA revealed that there was no
significant difference (p = .06) between children with AspD and children with AD in language comprehension at the
childhood level.
A Chi-square test showed that the percentage of the children with below average language comprehension abilities in the
AD group was significantly higher than that in the AspD group (p < .01). Another Chi-square test showed that the percentage
of the children with below average language comprehension abilities was significantly higher than that of the children with
above average language comprehension abilities in the AD group.
3.2.2. Middle childhood level (10–12 years)
An ANOVA was used to determine if there was a significant difference among children with AspD, children with AD, and
children with TD in language comprehension at the middle childhood level (see Table 2). The result of the ANOVA test
showed that there was a significant difference among the three groups in language comprehension. A post hoc test (Games
Howell test) showed that children with AspD showed significantly higher language comprehension than did children with
AD (p < .001). Given that children with AspD had significantly higher IQ than did children with AD (see Table 3), an ANCOVA
was used to determine the group difference in language comprehension by controlling for IQ. The result of the ANCOVA
revealed that there was no significant difference (p = .09) between children with AspD and children with AD in language
comprehension.
A Chi-square test showed that the percentage of the children with below average language comprehension abilities in the
AD group was significantly higher than that in the AspD group (p < .01). Another Chi-square test showed that the percentage
of the children with below average language comprehension abilities was significantly higher than that of the children with
above average language comprehension abilities in the AD group.
3.3. Is there a gender difference in children with AspD and children with AD in language comprehension as measured by the MTT?
3.3.1. Childhood level (7–9 years)
The MTT scores by gender by the AspD group and the AD group are presented in Table 4. There was no gender difference in
the AspD group or the AD group. Girls did not show significantly higher language comprehension than did boys.