Language and Communication in Autism

Typically developing children start using words around age 1 and develop conversational ability by 18 to 24 months. In autism, these communicative behaviors are delayed and impaired to varying degrees. Affected areas of language development include articulation, word use, syntax and morphology, echolalia (repetition with similar intonation of words/phrases someone else has said), and confusion of personal pronouns. Further research must address deficits in ability to process information about social situations, as this is most likely behind the communication disorders in autism. Keywords: autism; communication development; language development