Language

HFA–Weaknesses in language are common, as is a reliance on echolalia.

AS–Strengths in expressive and receptive language are common; however, language may be excessively pedantic.

Play and leisure

HFA–Visual-spatial strengths contribute to constructive play, reading, drawing, and music skills, while limiting parallel and cooperative play.

AS–Verbal language strengths contribute to preferences for verbal exchanges. Thus, parallel play skills may emerge as others are sought out to gain opportunities to exchange verbal information. Cooperative play, on the other hand, will be compromised.

Conversation

HFA–A more passive conversational style may be related to preference for static visual information.

AS–A more verbose conversational style may be related to a preference for verbal information in the environment.

Talents and strengths

HFA–Strengths in visual spatial processing and rote auditory memory may contribute to artistic and musical talents (as an example, see the illustration that accompanies this article).

AS–Strengths in verbal memory may contribute to “fact-gathering” topic initiations.

Prosody

HFA–After more creative and generative language, the quality of speech can often be monotonous and marked by a constricted range of intonation.

AS–Although prosody is variable, poor quality is noted.