Unlocking Metamemory: Supporting Learning in Autism: A guide for speech therapists, educational psychologists, and parents

This book, the tenth volume in a series on Functional Medicine in Autism and Hyperactivity and Inattention Syndrome, focuses on metamemory in individuals with autism. Metamemory is the awareness and understanding of one's own memory processes, crucial for learning, remembering, and applying information.

The book is inspired by insights from both professionals and individuals with autism, including autistic physicians who offer a unique perspective by combining personal experience with professional expertise. It emphasizes the complexity of cognitive processes in both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals and the importance of understanding these mechanisms to develop effective interventions.

The author aims to provide a guide to learning, metacognition, and metamemory, exploring the theoretical foundations and research findings, and offering practical strategies to support metamemory skills, particularly in autism and ADHD.

The series, a collaboration between European and Anglo-Saxon professionals, includes volumes in both Italian and English, reflecting a diverse and comprehensive approach to understanding autism and ADHD. Future volumes will delve into related topics such as attention, social cognition, and intervention strategies.

Chapter 1 defines metamemory and discusses its development in children with autism, highlighting its relationship with language skills and cognitive abilities. It addresses the mixed outcomes of metamemory tasks in autistic children, the variability in metamemory performance, and the influence of factors like task timing and difficulty. The chapter also emphasizes the link between language proficiency and metamemory skills, and the importance of metamemory and language in using memory strategies. It concludes with practical implications for parents and professionals, stressing tailored support, language development, and metacognitive training.

Chapter 2 provides an analytical framework and assessment approaches for metamemory processes in autistic children. It discusses the theoretical framework of metamemory, its components, and the characteristic differences in metamemory functioning between autistic and typically developing children. The chapter also explores the role of language in metamemory, step-by-step analysis of metamemory processes in autism, including memory monitoring, strategy implementation, and reality monitoring. It also details practical assessment methods such as metamemory questionnaires and Judgment of Learning (JOL) tasks, emphasizing the importance of adapting these tools for autistic children.