Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability, which is a biologically based neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s social interaction and communication skills. Core deficits are identified in two domains: social communication/interaction and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. Children and youth with ASD have service needs in behavioral, educational, health, leisure, family support, and other areas. Autism is a set of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions, characterized by inability to acquire social skills, repetitive behaviors and failure of speech and nonverbal communication development. Objective: To examine frequency, correlation and predictivity of communication and language skills of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) children and their parents’ emotions. Methods: The sample consisted of 80 participants who are parents of children with ASD. The study was performed using a questionnaire made out for this research. Three groups of variables were analyzed: parental emotions variables; child’s communication variables, child’s language variables. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS, and included basic statistical parameters and multiple regression analysis. Results: The most common ways of communicate for children with ASD are: Allowing to cuddle; Recognizes familiar faces; and Makes it known when he needs help or wants an item. The most common language forms of children ASD are: Following simple instructions; Understanding connected words/phrases; Pronouncing single words; and Looking at when called by name. Parents of children with ASD expressed the greatest agreement with the following statements: “My child is more demanding than most other children”; “It seems to me that my child is very sensitive and easily upset”; “My child can’t do much of what he’s expected to know to do”, and “I often lack energy.” Conclusion: Parents of children with ASD proved that their children have significant delays in communication and language. Developed communication and language skills of the child with ASD are valid predictors of parents’ emotions/attitudes. Speech and language therapy work focused on developing the ASD child’s communication and language skills can be expected to improve parents’ emotions/attitudes.

Key words: caretaker’s attitudes, speech and language pathology.