Communication & Autism
According to the National Autism Resources, researcher have been able to identify two core communication deficits in children with autism. The deficits are in the area of joint attention and symbol usage (examples listed below). Both communication deficits are early predictors of autism traits and early intervention needs to be a primary goal. Children with autism usually have very limited ability to focus on attention between people and objects or with gestural uses.
Joint Attention
* For more information on language development and autism, as well as support tools, please click the link below. |
An example of the communication of a typically developing child and a child diagnosed with autism.
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Use of Symbols
(Dawson et al., 1990; Kasari et al., 1990; McArthur and Adamson, 1996; Mundy et al., 1990; Sigman and Ruskin, 1999; Stone et al., 1997; Wetherby et al., 1998) |