Abstract
Children with a diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) appear to show difficulties in social understanding. We aimed
to compare the pragmatic language functioning of children with (RAD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Assessments were
made in three groups of children aged 5–8 years, with verbal IQ estimates in the normal range: 35 with a RAD diagnosis, 52
with an ASD diagnosis and 39 with typical development. The Children’s Communication Checklist (CCC) was used to compare their
pragmatic language skills, and ADI-R algorithms were used to compare autistic symptomatology, according to parent report.
According to the CCC, the RAD group demonstrated significant problems in their use of context, rapport and social relationships
with a degree of severity equivalent to children in the ASD comparison group. More than 60% of the group with RAD met ADI-R
clinical criteria on the Use of Language and Other Social Communication Skills subscale, 46% on the Reciprocal Social Interaction
subscale, and 20% had significant repetitive and stereotyped behaviours. Children with RAD appear to be at least as impaired
as children with ASD in certain domains of social relatedness, particularly in their pragmatic language skills.
to compare the pragmatic language functioning of children with (RAD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Assessments were
made in three groups of children aged 5–8 years, with verbal IQ estimates in the normal range: 35 with a RAD diagnosis, 52
with an ASD diagnosis and 39 with typical development. The Children’s Communication Checklist (CCC) was used to compare their
pragmatic language skills, and ADI-R algorithms were used to compare autistic symptomatology, according to parent report.
According to the CCC, the RAD group demonstrated significant problems in their use of context, rapport and social relationships
with a degree of severity equivalent to children in the ASD comparison group. More than 60% of the group with RAD met ADI-R
clinical criteria on the Use of Language and Other Social Communication Skills subscale, 46% on the Reciprocal Social Interaction
subscale, and 20% had significant repetitive and stereotyped behaviours. Children with RAD appear to be at least as impaired
as children with ASD in certain domains of social relatedness, particularly in their pragmatic language skills.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0259-8
- Authors
- Fareeha Amber Sadiq, Section of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 8SJ UK
- Louise Slator, Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guildford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
- David Skuse, Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guildford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
- James Law, Institute of Health and Society, School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU UK
- Christopher Gillberg, Section of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 8SJ UK
- Helen Minnis, Section of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 8SJ UK
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827