A psychological approach to understanding the social and language impairments in autism

Journal/Book: Int Rev Psychiatr. 1999; 11: Rankine Rd, Basingstoke Rg24 8Pr, Hants, England. Carfax Publishing. 325-334.

Abstract: This paper surveys current research on the social and communicative impairments in autism. In diagnostic schemes, the criteria for identifying autism in these domains include overlapping features. One approach to interpreting this overlap is to consider that social and communicative impairments reflect the same underlying cognitive deficit, referred to as the 'theory of mind' hypothesis of autism. On this view autism involves primary difficulties in identifying mental states in other people, and in interpreting behavior and action in relation to a person's mental state. Studies on the relationship between social behavior, communicative functioning, and theory of mind in children with autism are reviewed, emphasizing the connections between these areas of impairment that are central to the definition of the autistic syndrome.

Note: Article Tager-Flusberg H, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Ctr Mental Retardat Inc, Ctr Res Dev Disorders, 200 Trapelo Rd, Waltham,MA 02452 USA

Keyword(s): PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS; DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW; SYNDROME CHILDREN; JOINT ATTENTION; DOWNS-SYNDROME; MIND; INDIVIDUALS; COMMUNICATION; DISCOURSE; PARENTS

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