A study of speechless autistic infants

Abstract

To study the causes of speechlessness in autism, we selected 24 schoolaged autistic children from among our 143 patients, who have been receiving communication therapy for at least one year who participated in summer camps, and in whom ADL and other conditions were recognized. 1) Absolutely speechless children comprised 24% of our 143 autistic subjects: including spealcers capable of a few words, about 40% of all our patients had difficulty communicating. 2) All speechless children with autism are mentally retarded, but the severity of retardation differs from case to case. 3) The speechless group may be devided in to two Subgroups : one with conspicuous mental retardation and the other with autistic tendencies. 4) Suspected cases of macrocephaly, cerebral palsy, abnormal EEG, chromosome aberration or phenylketonuria are included in 24% of our patients. 5) Three autistic children showed signs of apraxia of speech. 6) Basic communication abilities were insufficient such as recognizing their environmenta circumstances or manifesting their own intentions. Over half of the subjects showed evidence of self-inflicted injuries and assaults.