Leiden University Student Repository

Mons, Maria A. (2013)

Rol van Sensitiviteit en Joint Attention in de Taalontwikkeling van Kinderen met Autisme

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Almost all children with ASD show impaired language development, probably due to deficits in joint attention skills. This study examines the role of joint attention and parental sensitivity in the development of expressive and receptive language skills of children with AD and PDD. Sixty-nine children between 16 and 61 months of age and diagnosed with ASD were observed during joint attention tasks and parent-child interactions by using the ESCS and the EAS. Language development was measured with the Dutch versions of the Reynell, the Schlichting and the CDIs. An independent samples t-test show differences in all variables between children with AD and children with PDD. Hierarchical regression analyses show that according to children with PDD, parental sensitivity is the most important predictor of language production and language comprehension; joint attention doesn’t play any role. However, according to children with AD joint attention is a stronger predictor than parental...Show moreAlmost all children with ASD show impaired language development, probably due to deficits in joint attention skills. This study examines the role of joint attention and parental sensitivity in the development of expressive and receptive language skills of children with AD and PDD. Sixty-nine children between 16 and 61 months of age and diagnosed with ASD were observed during joint attention tasks and parent-child interactions by using the ESCS and the EAS. Language development was measured with the Dutch versions of the Reynell, the Schlichting and the CDIs. An independent samples t-test show differences in all variables between children with AD and children with PDD. Hierarchical regression analyses show that according to children with PDD, parental sensitivity is the most important predictor of language production and language comprehension; joint attention doesn’t play any role. However, according to children with AD joint attention is a stronger predictor than parental sensitivity, with a more important role for reactive joint attention. Sensitivity predicts the joint attention level in this group. These results could provide handles for developing more specific interventions to foster language development of children with different types of ASD.Show less

autism

pervasive developmental disorder

language development

joint attention

parental sensitivity

Author

Mons, Maria A.

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Child and Family Studies

Supervisors

Naber, F.B.A.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl