Original scientific paper
Spontaneous communication and its effectiveness in children with autism spectrum disorders
Jasmina Stošić
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, Odsjek za inkluzivnu edukaciju i rehabilitaciju, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The goal of this study was to analyze communication spontaneity and its effectiveness in children with autism spectrum disorders included in regular and special preschool settings. Participants were 33 children (age range from 4 years to 6 years 9 months) with ASD. Data was collected via naturalistic observation using video. Video tapes were analyzed using continuum model of communication spontaneity (Carter and Hotchkiss, 2003). Effectiveness of communication was operationalized through outcomes of children’s communication acts. T-test and one way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Results have shown that there is no significant difference in communication spontaneity between children included in regular and those included in special preschool settings. Further analysis has shown that antecedents or strategies used to prompt a communication act were similar in those settings. Effectiveness of communication is higher for children in regular than in special settings but in both settings less spontaneous communication acts were more effective. Results indicate that spontaneous communication is not encouraged through everyday routines.
Keywords
spontaneous communication; continuum model; autism spectrum disorders
Hrčak ID:
109425
URI
Publication date:
4.11.2013.
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