Perception of Reception: Communication between Parents and Their Children on the Autism Spectrum

No Thumbnail Available

Authors

Rossignol, Adele

Issue Date

2023

Type

Thesis.

Language

en_US

Keywords

Undergraduate thesis. , Undergraduate research.

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

Language impairment has the potential to negatively impact the ability of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to both communicate and learn throughout their childhood. One possible influence on a child with ASD’s level of language impairment is the verbal communication which they receive from their parents. In order to further investigate the dynamics of parent speech to their children with ASD, 6 pre-existing unstructured free-play videos of parent-child dyads were subjected to secondary analysis. Only the audio from these recordings was utilized during coding. Coding procedures evaluated the quality and quantity of parent speech as a function of the intended purpose of the communication for the children and diagnostic status of the child. Coding categories included Directive Non-word, Supportive Non-word, Directive Semantic, and Supportive Semantic. These four codes were summarized as Child-directed communication, as the intention of the speech is either to encourage or to redirect the focus of the child. Child participants were also assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The small sample size (n = 6, 3 typically developing (TD) child participants and 3 children on the autism spectrum) of the present study was too small to justify inferential statistical analysis; nonetheless, results found correlations between Non-word Supportive parent speech and diagnostic status, Non-word parent speech and SRS, and mother age when compared with total child-directed speech. These findings can inform the development of future studies to help progress the understanding of the language development of neurodivergent children.

Description

62 leaves; illustrations.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-53).

Citation

Rossignol, Adele. (2023, May 15). Perception of reception: Communication between parents and their children on the autism spectrum. Retrieved from:

Publisher

Wheaton College. (Norton, Mass.)

Journal

Volume

Issue

PubMed ID

DOI

ISSN

EISSN

Collections