REFERENCES:
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a wide range of abilities when it comes to speech and language skills. High functioning individuals may be perfectly fluent, others struggle, and some may remain nonverbal and communicate through other methods.
AppliedBehaviorAnalysisEdu.Org. (n.d.). How is ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) Used to Identify ASD?AppliedBehaviorAnalysisEdu.Org. https://www.
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ASHAWire. (2015, March 1). Research Reveals ‘Idiosyncratic’ Brain Functions in ASD. ASHAWire. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.RIB5.20032015.17
Autism Live. (2015, December 15). Autism Jargon: Idiosyncratic Language [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/embed/oVuXyU04d04
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Diagnostic Criteria. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcpdsm.html
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. (2015). Pragmatic Language. Speech-Language Pathology. https://www.cincinnatichildrens.
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Field, E. I. (2021, April 12). Echolalia Autism: Why Does My Child Repeat Me? Autism Parenting Magazine. https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/echolalia-autism-child/
Lachman, M. (2021, April 12). Benefits of Speech Therapy for Children with Autism. Autism Parenting Magazine. https://
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For many children with ASD, a delay in language development is one of the first signs that they have a developmental disorder. Struggles with verbal communication may result from speech problems (difficulty pronouncing or forming words correctly), language problems (difficulty using words in coherent sentences), or both.
Prud’hommeaux, E., van Santen, J. P.H., Black, L. M., & Roark,B. (2010, May). Automatic Detection of Idiosyncratic Word Use in Autism Spectrum Disorders. International Meeting
for Autism Research 2010. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268144716_Automatic_Detection_of_
Idiosyncratic_Word_Use_in_Autism_Spectrum_Disorders
Stephan, T. (2016). Guidelines for Choosing a Speech-Language Pathologist. The Hanen Center. http://www.hanen.org/HelpfulInfo/Articles/Choosing-a-Speech-Language-Pathologist.aspx
Volden, J., & Lord, C. (1991). Neologisms and idiosyncratic language in autistic speakers. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 109-130. https://link.springer.
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Oftentimes, challenges with social communication go beyond just verbal—a child may be unable to grasp the meaning of body language and physical gestures, like pointing at an object.
Typically-developing children will seek out social interactions with parents and other people, allowing them to naturally grow in their language skills. Autistic children, however, don’t tend to engage with others as readily, even at an early age, leading to deficits in their social communication abilities.