As I mentioned before children with Autism have difficulty with verbal communication. Experts are now saying that if children learn verbal skills by the age of five, during adulthood they will be higher functioning than other nonverbal adults who have the disorder. In a 2006 study, toddlers received intensive therapy which focused on “developing fundamental oral language skills.” By the end of the study, the toddlers made a significant increase in their verbal communication.
Connie Kasan of University of California, Los Angeles and her team also conducted a study geared toward increasing verbal communication skills. The study involved 58 children between the ages of three and four. The study focused specifically on two areas of early behavior, symbolic play and joint attention. Kasan and her colleagues randomly separated the children into three groups. Both the symbolic play group and joint attention group geared their sessions toward the assigned behavior, while the control group engaged in free play. Each day the children would play with trained graduate students for a 30 minute intensive intervention.
The study was conducted over a five to six week time
period. Before and after each session, the children were evaluated using standardized
tests. The tests were a tool used to measure language and cognitive abilities. The
children’s play level and diversity, and engagement with caregiver were also
observed and noted during each session. At the end of the study the two intervention
groups showed great improvements. The symbolic play group had better symbolic behaviors;
while the joint attention group increased the usage of pointing behaviors.
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| Symblic Play |
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| Joint Attention |
Twelve months after the study was completed; Kasan and her team conducted a follow-up assessment on the children’s language skills. Using a standard language test, the results showed a vast improvement in verbal communication abilities from both the symbolic play group and joint attention group, whereas the control group showed a slight improvement. Kasan believes the most important contributor to such progress was “engaging the child for periods of time with a social partner.”
These studies are
motivational and inspiring. With a great amount of intervention and resources,
children with Autism will have the possibility to verbally communicate their
needs and want. The findings from the two studies above also proves how early
intervention is crucial to help children with disorders. The earlier children receive
services, the better off they will be in the future. Having verbal
communication skills would also help the struggle of social skills. Children
will have the words to interact with their families, friends, and peers.
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