Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Language, communication, and the use of symbols in normal and autistic children

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of autism and childhood schizophrenia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The characteristics of language and other forms of communication in normal and autistic children are described. The main basis of comparison is the extent to which each group can comprehend and use spoken and nonspoken language and also develop inner language. It is suggested that the central problem in early childhood autism is an impairment of complex symbolic function affecting all forms of communication. This problem can occur on its own, but, in the majority of cases, it is associated with other impairments of the central nervous system. The relationship of early childhood autism to mental retardation and to normal intellectual function is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Argyle, M. Non-verbal communication in human social interaction. In R. A. Hinde (Ed.),Non-verbal communication. London: University Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartak, L., Rutter, M., & Cox, A. A comparative study of infantile autism and specific developmental receptive language disorders: I. The children.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1975,126, 127–145.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bettelheim, B.The empty fortress. London: Collier-MacMillan, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R.Social psychology. London: MacMillan, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Churchill, D. W. The relationship of infantile autism and early childhood schizophrenia to developmental language disorders of childhood.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 182–197.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conn, P. The interrelations of alternatives in symbolic representation.Disorders of Communication, 1974,9, 92–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creak, E. M. (Chairman). Schizophrenic syndrome in childhood; progress report of a working party.Cerebral Palsy Bulletin, 1961,3, 501–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crystal, D. Prosodic systems and language acquisition. In P. Leon (Ed.),Prosodic feature analysis. Paris: Didiet, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, M. A. A five year study of the language of an autistic child.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1966,1, 143–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeMyer, M. K., Barton, S., & Norton, J. A. A comparison of adaptive, verbal and motor profiles of psychotic and non-psychotic subnormal children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 359–377.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, M. A. Vocational guidance for former autistic children.Communication, 1973,4, 67–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egan, D., Illingworth, R. S., & MacKeith, R. C.Development screening 0–5 years, Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 30. London: Heinemann, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, J., & Wing, L. Language and social interaction in mildly autistic children and young adults: A clinical report. Unpublished.

  • Hermelin, B., & O'Connor, N.Psychological experiments with autistic children. London: Pergamon, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, T. T. S. Specific developmental disorders of speech in childhood.Brain, 1959,82, 450–467.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, T. T. S. Disorders of speech in childhood.British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 1969,2, 1608–1625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, T. T. S. The classification of speech and language disorders in young children. In M. Rutter and J. A. M. Martin (Eds.),The child with delayed speech. Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 43. London: Heinemann, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jesperson, O.Language—Its development, nature and origin. New York Henry Holt, 1922.

  • Kanner, L. Autistic disturbances of affective contact.Nervous Child, 1943,2, 217–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, L. Irrelevant and metaphorical language in early infantile autism.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1946,103, 242–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenneberg, E. H.Biological foundations of language. New York: Wiley, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levett, L. M.A method of communication for non-speaking severely subnormal children. London: Spastics Society, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotter, V. Epidemiology of autistic conditions in young children: I. Prevalence.Social Psychiatry, 1966,1, 124–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotter, V. Epidemiology of autistic conditions in young children: II. Some characteristics of the parents and children.Social Psychiatry, 1967,1, 163–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotter, V.The prevalence of the autistic syndrome in children. Ph.D. thesis, University of London, 1967.

  • Lovaas, O. I., Berberich, J. P., Perloff, B. F., & Schaeffer, B. Acquisition of imitative speech by schizophrenic children.Science, 1966,151, 705–707.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, J. Human language. In R. A. Hinde (Ed.),Non-verbal communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKay, D. M. Formal analysis of communicative processes. In R. A. Hinde (Ed.),Non-verbal communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeill, D. Developmental psycholinguistics. In F. Smith & G. A. Miller (Eds.),The genesis of language. Cambridge, Massachusetts: M.I.T. Press, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pronovost, W., Wakstein, M. P., & Wakstein, D. J. A longitudinal study of speech behaviour and language comprehension of fourteen children diagnosed as atypical or autistic.Exceptional Children, 1966,33, 19–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ricks, D. M.The beginning of verbal communication in normal and autistic children. M. D. thesis, London, 1972.

  • Ricks, D. M. Vocal communication in pre-verbal normal and autistic children. In N. O'Connor (Ed.),Language, cognitive deficits and retardation. London: Butterworths, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. Speech disorders in a series of autistic children. In A. W. Franklin (Ed.),Children with communication problems. London: Pitman, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. Clinical assessment of language disorders in the young child. In M. Rutter & J. A. M. Martin (Eds.), The child with delayed speech. Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 43. London: Heinemann, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Bartak, L., & Newman, S. Autism—a central disorder of cognition and language? In M. Rutter (Ed.),Infantile autism: Concepts, characteristics and treatment. London: Churchill, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., & Bax, M. Normal development of speech and language. In M. Rutter and J. A. M. Martin (Eds.),The child with delayed speech. Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 43. London: Heinemann, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Greenfield, D., & Lockyer, L. A five to fifteen year follow-up study of infantile psychosis: II. Social and behavioural outcome.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1967,113, 1183–1189.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., & Lockyer, L. A five to fifteen year follow-up study of infantile psychosis: I. Description of the sample.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1967,113, 1169–1182.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaffer, H. R. Early social behaviour and the study of reciprocity.Bulletin of the British Psychological Society, 1974,27, 209–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, M. D. Playthings in the development of language.Health Trends, 1969,1, 7–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, M. D. The child's acquisition of codes for personal and interpersonal communication. In M. Rutter & J. A. M. Martin (Eds.),The child with delayed speech. Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 43, London: Heinemann, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, M. D.Children's developmental progress from birth to five years:The Stycar sequences. Windsor, Berkshire: N.F.E.R., 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, B. F.Beyond freedom and dignity. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevarthen, C. Conversations with a two-month-old.New Scientist, 1974,62, 230–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tubbs, V. K. Types of linguistic disability in psychotic children.Journal of Mental Deficiency Research, 1966,10, 230–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L. S.Thought and language. Cambridge, Massachusetts: M.I.T. Press, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, C. D., McPherson, H., Sloman, L., Evans, M. A., & Kuchar, E. Communicating with an autistic boy by gestures.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1973,3, 337–346.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. The handicaps of autistic children—a comparative study.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1969,10, 1–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. Perceptual and language development in autistic children: A comparative study. In M. Rutter (Ed.),Infantile autism: Concepts, characteristics and treatment. London: Churchill, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. Language development and autistic behaviour in severely mentally retarded children.Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1974,67, 1031–1032.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L., & Gould, J. Speech and gesture in autistic and mentally retarded children: An epidemiological study. Unpublished.

  • Wing, L., & Wing, J. K. Multiple impairments in early childhood autism.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1971,1, 256–266.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harperbury Hospital, Harper Lane, near St. Albans, Hertfordshire

    Derek M. Ricks

  2. M.R.C. Social Psychiatry Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, DeCrespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, England

    Lorna Wing

Authors
  1. Derek M. Ricks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lorna Wing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This paper is a slightly modified version of a chapter which will appear in L. Wing (Ed.),Early childhood autism (2nd ed.). Oxford: Pergamon, 1975.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ricks, D.M., Wing, L. Language, communication, and the use of symbols in normal and autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord 5, 191–221 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538152

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538152

Keywords

Search

Navigation