Communication impairment in children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Communication deficits in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are not uniform, as seen in poor comprehension of complex sentences and metaphors combined with good vocabulary, spelling and phonological ability. It is also known that ASD patients have difficulty in use of language such that they do not speak to others though they speak to themselves or that they cannot follow conversational rules. Underconnectivity theory, which has high affinity with central coherence theory, and social brain disorder theory suggest that the deficits come from differences in brain functions. Comprehensive neuropsychological examination will be useful to understand cognitive characteristics of ASD individuals, and an effective speech and communication therapy requires coping with the cognitive characteristics.