Analysis of pragmatic aspects of communicative behavior in non-verbal and verbal children with autism

The analysis and intervention of communication is an important focus of aut ism research. The present study is a microanalsis of the communicative beha viour of 10 autistic children with their parents and a therapist. Protests, appropriate initiation and responses of the children were analysed in rela tion to demands and the specific feedback of the adults. After 20 months of structured therapy changes in the communicative behaviour of the participa nts were demonstrated. Autistic children showed different communicative pat tern with their parents compared to a therapist. The non-verbal group exhib ited significantly more protests and decreased responsivity with their pare nts compared to the therapist. The verbal group interacted with their paren ts predominantly by echolalia. After 20 months a significant reduction in p rotests, increased compliance and responsivity were obvious in the non-verb al group. The verbal group showed a reduction in echolalia as well as incre ased responsive and spontaneous communication. The results demonstrate that even non-verbal autistic children are sensitive towards different interact ion partners. Over the observation period participants showed a reduction i n behaviour problems and positive developments of communicative behaviour.