Language and Communication in Autism: an Integrated View

Children with autism spectrum disorders can have varying degrees of difficulty acquiring spoken and written language, but symptoms of communication impairment associated with social impairment are uniformly present, distinguishing autism spectrum disorders from other neurodevelopmental disabilities. Early diagnosis and early intervention involving parents can improve prognosis. Red flags for social communication problems can be observed early. This article summarizes findings from the National Standards Project of the National Autism Center, which identified 11 types of treatment, 8 of which address communication. Both contemporary behavioral approaches and naturalistic developmental approaches are included in this set.