Running head: FUNCTION BIAS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

We investigate the function bias – generalising words to objects with the same function – in typically developing (TD) children, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and children with other developmental disorders (DD). Across four trials, a novel object was named and its function was described and demonstrated. Children then selected the other referent from a shape match (same shape, different function) and function match (same function, different shape) object. TD children and children with ASD were ‘function biased’, although further investigation established that having a higher VMA facilitated function bias understanding in TD children, but having a lower VMA facilitated function bias understanding in children with ASD. This suggests that children with ASD are initially attuned to object function, not shape.