http://youtu.

be/BPDTEuotHe0

In early development, may need to rely on

parental reports and freefield assessments

Standardized testing
Emphasis first on prelinguistic behaviours and
play development
Then move to speech and language content and
form, but always stress the socio-pragmatic
aspect of language
Progress to higher level language functions e.g.
idiomatic language, narrative development
Pragmatics/social language use almost always a
priority and needs support as the child moves to
adolescence and adulthood

May be normal
May have an underlying oral-motor problem,

especially developmental verbal dyspraxia

May have phonological delay
Often have difficulties with phonemic
awareness skills for reading (most often sight
word readers)
Poor phonological representations and
organization lead to word retrieval difficulties
and general verbal formulation challenges
Prosodic differences (volume, intonation, etc.)

Attentional challenges/poor listening skills

Auditory capacity limitations
Slow auditory processing speed
Greater difficulties with grammatical function words

than content (meaning-based) vocabulary

Difficulties understanding abstract, idiomatic
language
Difficulties with theory of mind/mindblindness
(Baron-Cohen, 1995)
Hyperlexia

Difficulty with word retrieval

Formulation difficulties
Scripted language
Interference of special interests
Difficulty with pronouns
Difficulties with narrative organization
Difficulty with turn-taking/pragmatics of

language
May struggle with non-verbal communication
e.g. eye contact, personal space, etc.

Applied behavioural analysis/Intensive behavioural

intervention (ABA/IBI)
Pivotal Response Therapy (Based in ABA principles)
Interactive approaches (Floortime/DIR, SCERTS models)
The Denver Model: Sally Rogers
The Miller Method
Social skills/social stories/ The Hidden Agenda
(Myles-Smith)
Teaching Mindreading
Parent training programs e.g. Hanen: More than
Words
Computer technologies e.g. Fastforward, Earobics
AAC/sign language

Address the core characteristics

Intensive intervention (25 to 40 hours per week)
Surface behaviours versus deeper, relationship-

based approaches
Accountability
Child-centered versus adult-driven
Role of the family
Cost
Financial
Time/family commitment

Speech-Language Pathology
Occupational Therapy
Auditory Integration Therapy
GFCF diet and other supplements
Chelation/detoxification therapies
Music therapy
Sensory integration therapy
Neurofeedback therapy
Therapeutic horseback riding
Dolphin therapy
Canine therapy

Family
Physician
Developmental paediatrician
Developmental psychologist
ABA therapists
Speech-Language Pathologist
Audiologist
Occupational therapist
Social worker
Teacher and teaching assistants

Associated with right hemispheric brain

dysfunction
Performance IQ significantly weaker than verbal IQ
Difficulty with visual-spatial skills
Difficulty with reading facial expression
Personal space challenges
Difficulties with socialization
May have attentional/organizational challenges
Challenges writing legibly

Attwood, T. (2007). The Complete Guide to Aspergers

Syndrome. London & Philadephia: Jessica Kingsley
Publishers.
Baron-Cohen, S. (1995) Mindblindness: an essay on autism
and theory of mind. MIT Press: Bradford Books.
Exkorn, K.S. (2006). The Autism Sourcebook: Everything you
need to know about diagnosis, treatment, coping and
healing. New York: Harper Collins.
Greenspan, S.I. And Wieder, S. (2006). Engaging Autism.
Philadelphia: Da Capo Press.
Cohen, D.J. & Volkmar, F.R. (1997). Handbook of Autism and
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (2nd Edition). New York:
John Wiley .
Sacks, O. (1998). The Mind Traveller: Rage for Order. PBS
Series: Rosetta Pictures
Thompson, S. (1997). The Source for Nonverbal Learning
Disorders. East Molin, IL: Linguisystems.

Geneva Centre for Autism: www.autism.net

American Academy of Paediatrics: www.aap.org
Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Monitoring Network:
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm.html
The Hanen Centre: www.hanen.org
The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental
& Learning Disorders: www.icdl.com
DSM5: www.dsm.psychiatryonline.org