Autism Tanger-Flusberg

Question 1

NIDCD Goals

Answer 1

1. Develop measures for evaluating efficacy of interventions targeting spoken language acquisition.
2. Define common terminology for describing levels of spoken language ability & set benchmarks for determining a child’s language level

Question 2

Measuring Expressive Language

Answer 2

1. Natural language sample
2. Parent Report
3. Standardized Assessment

Question 3

Phase 1

Answer 3

Preverbal communication

• Preverbal intentional communication
• -babbling/gestures
• 6-12 months

Question 4

Phase 2

Answer 4

First Words

• Non-imitated spontaneous single words referentially and symbolically to communicate about objects/events
• Some speech is intelligible and incorporates most frequent consonant sounds heard in typical babble
• Use speech in a variety of settings/functions
• 12-18 months

Question 5

Phase 3

Answer 5

Word Combinations

• Combine words creatively to refer to objects and events
• Serve different communication functions
• 18-30 months

Question 6

Phase 4

Answer 6

Sentences

• Combine words into clausal structure using some morphological markers
• Fairly large vocabulary
• 30-48 months

Question 7

Phase 5

Answer 7

Complex Language

• rich vocabulary
• complex grammatical structures
• different discourse contents

Question 8

Benchmarks

Answer 8

• Evaluate whether a child meets criteria for achieving various language phases
• measures to be incorporated in intervention studies
• means for moitoring child’s progress in treatment