Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between structural language skills, and communication skills, adaptive behavior,
and emotional and behavior problems in pre-school children with autism. Participants were aged 3–5 years with autism (n = 27), and two comparison groups of children with developmental delay without autism (n = 12) and typically developing children (n = 20). The participants were administered standardised tests of structural language skills, and parents completed the Vineland
Adaptive Behavior Scales and the Developmental Behaviour Checklist. Results indicated that for children with autism, communication
skills, and in particular receptive communication skills, were associated with social and daily living skills, and behavior
problems. Receptive structural language skills were associated with expressive communication skills. There were no associations
found between structural language skills and social or daily living skills, nor behavior problems. The results of this study
suggest that communication skills are more closely linked to functional and behavioral outcomes in autism than structural
language skills.
and emotional and behavior problems in pre-school children with autism. Participants were aged 3–5 years with autism (n = 27), and two comparison groups of children with developmental delay without autism (n = 12) and typically developing children (n = 20). The participants were administered standardised tests of structural language skills, and parents completed the Vineland
Adaptive Behavior Scales and the Developmental Behaviour Checklist. Results indicated that for children with autism, communication
skills, and in particular receptive communication skills, were associated with social and daily living skills, and behavior
problems. Receptive structural language skills were associated with expressive communication skills. There were no associations
found between structural language skills and social or daily living skills, nor behavior problems. The results of this study
suggest that communication skills are more closely linked to functional and behavioral outcomes in autism than structural
language skills.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Brief Report
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1534-8
- Authors
- Carlie J. Park, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Gregory W. Yelland, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- John R. Taffe, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Kylie M. Gray, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257