Delayed reversal learning and association with repetitive behavior in autism spectrum disorders.

South et al. (2012) ran a lab game with youth who have autism and youth who do not. The kids first learned that one picture meant "safe" and another meant "threat." After several trials the rule flipped: the old safe picture now meant threat and vice-versa.

The team counted how many extra trials each child needed before they stopped following the old rule. They also asked parents about everyday rigid behaviors like needing the same route to school.

Kids with autism needed more trials to switch to the new rule. The slower they were in the game, the more intense their real-world repetitive behaviors were reported to be.

Neurotypical kids adjusted faster; their game scores did not relate to everyday flexibility.

Faja et al. (2015) and Leezenbaum et al. (2019) saw the same delay pattern in younger children using marshmallow-style "wait for a treat" tasks. These studies conceptually replicate the target: autistic learners show slower self-control across different ages and tasks.

Adams et al. (2021) extends the idea to eye-movement control. They found the slowdown is specific to proactive control — getting ready before the signal — not to quick emergency stops. This hints that extra warning time, not louder stop cues, may help.

Konke et al. (2026) looks like a contradiction at first: they report a positive outcome, showing that stronger delay skills protect adaptive functioning in toddlers. The twist is measurement direction. Mikle shows autism predicts poorer delay; Andersson shows that when autistic kids do delay well, life skills are better. Both can be true and together argue for teaching delay skills early.

If a learner stalls when classroom rules change, the issue may be cognitive flexibility, not defiance. Build extra practice trials into discrimination tasks and give pre-signals before rule switches. Pair these with everyday delay training like waiting for the iPad. Strengthening flexible waiting in clinic may soften rigid routines at home and school.