Functional Language Assessment and Socioemotional Aspects in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder

INTRODUCTION: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents specific characteristics in child development. Behavioral aspects, particularly communication, are the most frequent in making a diagnosis. Many studies on children with ASD use language as the primary marker for both diagnosis and prognosis. However, language is not the only marker due to the complexity of child development, encompassing cognitive, social, emotional, and communicative aspects. Some studies, such as those by Cardoso and collaborators, highlight behavioral and socioemotional symptoms commonly observed within the spectrum, differing by intensified difficulties in both language and cognition. One aspect associated with communication in children with ASD relates to behavioral and socioemotional demands. Although not a primary diagnostic criterion, children with ASD typically require more time to develop emotional regulation skills. Pragmatics involves the functional aspects of language, analyzing actions, reactions, or the effects of an interaction on the environment and/or interlocutor, considering both verbal and nonverbal language. (6,8). This research has been approved by the Ethics Committee, under number 6.890.786. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess functional communication and emotional aspects in boys with ASD aged 42 to 72 months. METHOD: Sixteen boys between 42 and 72 months of age were selected, and samples were collected through recordings of spontaneous communication between the patient and therapist in a natural intervention environment. Emotional demands were assessed using the IDADI protocol completed by the child`s parents or caregivers. RESULTS: The parents’ perception of their children`s communication difficulties was unanimously reported. It was demonstrated that the greater the difficulties in functional communication skills, the greater the socioemotional challenges. CONCLUSION: The children observed and evaluated in this study showed a correlation and satisfactory performance in the proposed tests, demonstrating that communication is positively related to the performance of socioemotional skills.

REFERENCE: American Psychiatric Association (APA). Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais: DSM-5. 5ª ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2014.