Motivating Communication in Children with Autism

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss motivation to communicate with others as a pivotal treatment goal in the habilitation of autism. Once motivation to attempt to communicate with others is improved, a marked melioration occurs not only in language directly, but also in a number of other symptoms of autism (R. Koegel & Frea, 1993; R. Koegel, L. Koegel, & Surratt, 1993). Such attainment of widespread changes is especially important, because individuals diagnosed as having autism exhibit a wide variety of behavioral excesses and deficits when compared to children who are developing typically. These abnormalities usually include qualitative deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, lack of reciprocal social interaction, and excessive disruptive and self-stimulatory behavior. Other behaviors that may be apparent are flattened, excessive, or otherwise inappropriate affect, self-injurious behavior, a preference for sameness in the environment, and isolated areas of exceptional performance (also termed savant skills).