Factors Influencing the Development of Expressive Language in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Descriptive Study

Daniela-Iulia  Stroescu

doi:10.56663/rop.v14i1.98

Authors

Daniela-Iulia Stroescu PhD. Candidate ,,Ion Creangă” State Pedagogic University from Chișinău, Republic of Moldova

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56663/rop.v14i1.98

Keywords:

autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cognitive-linguistic development, , receptive-expressive language, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), speech-language intervention

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the relationships between cognitive functioning, receptive–expressive language, and communication level in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research involved a homogeneous sample of 60 children aged 5–6 years, with a mean diagnostic age of 3.6 years. Standardized cognitive-verbal and language assessment tools were used. Nonparametric analyses were applied due to non-normal data distributions. Findings revealed a global developmental delay (cognitive-verbal age ≈ 27 months) and a receptive profile superior to expressive. Strong positive correlations were found between IQ and communication (ρ = .934), confirming cognition as a key predictor of adaptive language. All girls exhibited severe forms, while 25% of participants showed developmental regression. Overall, results support the cognitive–linguistic unity hypothesis and highlight the need for structured speech therapy focused first on receptive comprehension, followed by expressive language expansion and the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.

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