Words Without Speaking: Assessing Nonspoken Vocabulary in Autism

What is it about?

This study looks at how to better understand the ways minimally speaking autistic children communicate. These children often use gestures, pictures, and other nonspoken methods to express themselves. Traditional language evaluation tools usually only count spoken words, which can miss a lot of what these children are communicating to others. The researchers modified an existing tool (i.e., a parent-report questionnaire) to include nonspoken words. They had the parents of 16 autistic children aged 3 to 9 years fill out this modified questionnaire. The results showed that when nonspoken words were included, the children's vocabulary increased by an average of 14 words. This means we get a much better idea of what these children can express when we count all the ways they communicate. The study also found that verbs (action words) were an important part of the children's vocabulary, similar to kids without autism. This shows that using evaluation tools that include nonspoken communication can help us better understand and support these children. Overall, the study suggests that by looking at all the ways children communicate, we can better help them and understand their needs.

Why is it important?

This study is novel because it shows a new way to understand how minimally speaking autistic children communicate. By including nonspoken methods like gestures, picture boards, AAC devices in language evaluation tools, the researchers found that these children use more words than we thought. This new approach helps us see the full range of their communication skills, which can lead to better support and understanding for these children.