Sobh Chahboun

Sobh Chahboun is a Professor at the Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo. Their research focuses on figurative language processing in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the intersection of language, culture, and pedagogy. They hold a PhD in Psycholinguistics (2017) from the University of Oslo and have extensive international research experience, including a Marie Curie fellowship (Lanpercept ITN, 2013-2016).

Education background includes advanced degrees in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Educational Psychology, Hearing and Language Teaching, and Speech Therapy from the University of Granada, Spain. Their work bridges clinical, educational, and sociocultural aspects of language development, with a focus on improving inclusion for children with ASD and neurodivergent populations.

Research interests include metaphorical priming effects in ASD, contextual and visual cues in language comprehension, cross-cultural temporal perception, and policy implications of evolving diagnostic criteria. They have published widely on topics such as AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) in education, early childhood sexuality education, and multicultural integration in Norway.

Key contributions include a doctoral thesis on figurative language processing comparisons between neurotypical and ASD populations, and collaborative studies using eye-tracking methodologies to analyze reading strategies in children with ASD. Their work frequently addresses societal challenges in education and healthcare through interdisciplinary lenses.