Introduction to Communication Problems in Autism

Abstract

Although autism is frequently described as a low-incidence disorder (Rutter & Schopler, 1978), the syndrome has attracted a growing cadre of researchers, clinicians, and teachers. This attraction can be attributed to autism’s devastating effect on families, the unusual and puzzling behaviors it produces, and its overlap with most other childhood disorders because it involves multiple problems with language, social relationships, emotional adjustment, conceptualization, hyperactivity, and learning. This growing interest has resulted in a better understanding and treatment of autistic people than has ever been available in the past. However, the proliferation of articles, books, treatment programs, and media coverage has also brought increased confusion and misconceptions. There is the problem of staying up to date with the increasing amount of information from both the professional and popular literature along with the difficulty in distinguishing sound research from that which is careless or pointless. A related concern is how to distinguish new treatment or educational methods that are effective from primarily self-promoting exaggerations that offer only false hope.