Language therapy and autism: results of three different models.

BACKGROUND

language and communication disorders are essential features of the autistic spectrum disorders, and are part of the diagnostic criteria.

AIM: to verify the existence of observable differences in the functional communicative profile and in the social cognitive performance of autistic children and adolescents receiving language therapy in three different situations. Assessment focused on the period of modified intervention and on the following period.

METHOD: subjects were children and adolescents with psychiatric diagnosis within the autistic spectrum. Participants were divided in three groups according to the intervention received during a period of six months.

RESULTS

determined observable differences, but not statistically significant. The group that presented the most progress was the one in which the subjects received therapy in pairs. The fact that none of groups presented a decrease in their progress indicators, as well as the fact that in a few situations the number of subjects who presented progress increased after this period was not expected.

CONCLUSION

the results of the present study reinforce that the procedures used to determine the individual abilities and inabilities were useful in planning the intervention procedures.