[Communication and language in the autistic spectrum: autism and dysphasia]

Abstract

Introduction: The alterations of language and communication seen in children with autistic spectrum disorders (TEA) have some similar and some dissimilar features to those seen in children with specific language disorders (TEL). The basic disorder of TEA seems to be due to alterations in the social and mental use of codes of communication, both verbal and non verbal. Children with TEL however have better non verbal and practical abilities.

Objective: In view of this, we decided to determine the qualitative difference in function in communication and language between the two populations.

Patients and methods: The great heterogeneity between persons with autistic spectrum disorders and even variation between individuals makes investigation of large groups difficult. It is therefore necessary to study individual cases or groups with small numbers. If we fix our attention on language and communication, it is important to define subtypes of function with the population affected by the autistic spectrum of disorders at an early age, in the fields of communication, receptive language and expressive language in our small sample of persons; taking the normal course of development in each field as the parameter for comparison. This is a pilot study within a long term research project.

Results: The results reported here are the preliminary findings of what will be a more extensive study with fuller analysis of the results.

Conclusions: The preliminary findings suggest that there are different linguistic and communication function profiles in the different populations compared.