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Verbal communication refers to the production of spoken language to send an intentional message to a listener. Verbal and nonverbal communication abilities are considered to represent a core deficit in the diagnosis of autism. Indeed, the presence of fluent spoken language (in the form of regular and nonimitative use of multiword utterances) during the preschool years is a robust predictor of positive long-term outcomes for children with autism. In the research literature, the acquisition of fluent spoken language is sometimes referred to as functional speech. The domain of verbal communication can be divided into several component areas: semantics (vocabulary), syntax (grammar), and pragmatics (the social uses of language). Often, pragmatics is the area of spoken language that is most challenging for individuals with autism.
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References and Readings
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McDuffie, A. (2013). Verbal Communication. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1709
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1709
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