Parent Content3
Language and Communication
Those with ASD display a range in language and communication capabilities. Some children with ASD are mute their whole lives, others babble or speak early in life but stop speaking later on, and there are some who display few language deficits (Asperger's Syndrome). Those who are mute sometimes learn to use other communication systems, such as pictures or sign language.1 There are many augmentative and alternative communication(AAC) devices which ASD children who can not speak may be taught to use. Studies which looked at the use of AAC devices generally showed that that children were able to learn how to use these devices. However, AAC machines were usually only used to teach requesting skills, so there is a great need for machines that can be used for more advanced communication skills 5
Children with ASD that are only mildly affected by language deficits might still have difficulty holding a conversation despite their large vocabulary. Prognosis for further speech development is poor for most children who have not developed any useful speech by 5, although there have been reported cases of children who acquired speech after 5 years of age. To read more, click here to access full page
Neurobiology of Language
Neuroimaging studies using fMRIs have suggested that individuals with autism may process language differently from typically developing individuals. During language task, activation in typical atypical cortical areas are increased, where as activation i abnormally increased or decreased in typical language areas. Both magnetoencephalography and evoked potential studies have shown that those with autism eventually overuse the right hemisphere to process language, though overuse does not happen until adolescence. The pattern of activation is reminiscent of activation patterns in patients with developmental dyslexia. 2
Language and Mirror Neuron System
The mirror neuron system has been suggested to be linked to language by neuroimaging studies which show that areas in the premotor cortex activate both when the individual sees the action performed and when they read a phrase detailing the action.(e.g. biting the banana). EEG studies measuring mu suppression link mirror neuron system response to the clinical observations of improvement in social skills and communication therapies for children with ASD when they involve interaction with parents or siblings.3
