Abstract
The development of a technique for analyzing mothers' speech to young children is described. The need for such a measure arose from two linked studies of autistic children, one comparing them with developmental “dysphasic” children and the other evaluating the results of a home-based approach to treatment. A 17-category system was developed which could encompass almost all the types of speech shown by mothers of young autistic and normal children and which differentiated between the speech used by different mothers in a way that was meaningfully related to the child's level of language development. The categories proved to be easily applicable and to show good inter-observer reliability. Tape-recordings made during home observations were found to be the best source of speech samples. The problems of time sampling, length and nature of speech sample, and observer effects are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernstein, B. Social class and linguistic development: A theory of social learning. In A. H. Halsey & C. A. Anderson (Eds.),Education, economy and society. Glencoe, I11.: Free Press, 1961.
Bernstein, B. A. Sociolinguistic approach to socialization: With some reference to educability. In F. Williams (Ed.),Language and poverty: Perspectives on a theme. Chicago: Markham, 1970.
Block, J. Parents of schizophrenic, neurotic, asthmatic and congenitally ill children.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1969,20, 659–674.
Block, J., Patterson, V., Block, J., & Jackson, D. D. A study of the parents of schizophrenic children.Psychiatry, 1958,21, 387–397.
Brown, R., Cazden, C., & Bellugi, U. The child's grammar from I to III. In J. P. Hill (Ed.),Minnesota symposium on child psychology. Vol. 2. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969.
Brown, R., & Hanlon, C. Derivational complexity and order of acquisition in child speech. In J. R. Hayes (Ed.),Cognition and the development of language. New York: Wiley, 1970.
Donnelly, E. The quantitative analysis of parent behavior toward psychotic children and their siblings.Genetic Psychology Monographs, 1960,62, 331–376.
Feldman, C. The effects of various types of adult responses in the syntactic acquisition of two to three year-olds. Unpublished report. University of Chicago, 1970.
Friedlander, B. Z., Jacobs, A. C., Davis, B. B., & Wetstone, H. S. Time-sampling analysis of infants' natural language environments in the home.Child Development, 1972,43, 730–740.
Goldfarb, W., Goldfarb, N., & Scholl, H. H. The speech of mothers of schizophrenic children.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1966,122, 1220–1227.
Goldfarb, W., Levy, D. M., & Meyers, D. I. The verbal encounter between the schizophrenic child and his mother. In G. S. Goldman & D. Shapiro (Eds.),Developments in psychoanalysis at Columbia University. New York: Hafner, 1966.
Haley, J. Testing parental instructions to schizophrenic and normal children: A pilot study.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1968,73, 559–565.
Henry, J. My life with families of psychotic children. In G. Handel (Ed.),The psychosocial interior of the family: A source-book for the study of whole families. Chicago: Aldine, 1967.
Hess, R. D., & Shipman, V. C. Cognitive elements in maternal behavior. In J. Hill (Ed.),Minnesota symposium on child psychology. Vol. 1. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1967.
Hingtgen, J. N., & Trost, F. C. Shaping cooperative responses in early childhood schizophrenics. II. Reinforcement of mutual physical contact and vocal responses. In R. Ulrich, T. Stachnik, & J. Maby (Eds.),Control of human behavior. Chicago: Scott, Foresman, 1966.
Howlin, P., Marchant, R., Rutter, M., Berger, M., Hersov, L., & Yule, W. A. home-based approach to the treatment of autistic children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1973,3, 308–336.
Lovaas, O. I., Berberich, J. P., Perloff, B. F., & Schaeffer, G. Acquisition of imitative speech by schizophrenic children.Science, 1966,151, 705–707.
Marshall, N. R., Hegrenes, J. R., & Goldstein, S. Verbal interactions: Mothers and their retarded children vs. mothers and their non-retarded children.American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1973,77, 415–419.
Morris, G. O., & Wynne, L. C. Schizophrenic offspring and parental styles of communication.Psychiatry, 1965,28, 19–44.
Olim, E. G. Maternal language styles and children's cognitive behavior.Journal of Special Education, 1970,4, 53–68.
Patterson, G. R., & Reid, J. B. Recipriocity and coercion: Two facets of social systems. In C. Neuringer & T. Michaels (Eds.),Behavior modification in clinical psychology. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1970.
Rheingold, H. L., Gewirtz, J. L., & Ross, H. W. Social conditioning of vocalizations in the infant.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1969,52, 68–73.
Risley, T., & Wolf, M. Establishing functional speech in echolalic children.Behavior Research and Therapy, 1967,5, 73–88.
Rutter, M. The description and classification of infantile autism. In D. W. Churchill, G. D. Alpern, & M. K. DeMyer (Eds.),Infantile autism. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 1971.
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.
Rutter, M., & Mittler, P. Environmental influences on language development. In M. Rutter & J. A. M. Martin (Eds.),The child with delayed speech. Clinics in Developmental Medicine, No. 43. London: Wm. Heinemann, 1972.
Rutter, M., & Sussenwein, F. A developmental and behavioral approach to the treatment of preschool autistic children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1971,1, 376–397.
Siegel, G. M. Adult verbal behavior with retarded children labeled as “high” or “low” in verbal ability.American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1963,3, 417–424.
Siegel, G. M., & Harkins, J. P. Verbal behavior of adults in two conditions with institutionalized retarded children.Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 1963, Monograph Supplement10, 39–47.
Singer, M. T., & Wynne, L. C. Differentiating characteristics of parents of childhood schizophrenics, childhood neurotics and young adult schizophrenics.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1963,120, 234–243.
Sloane, H. N., Johnston, M. K., & Harris, F. R. Remedial procedures for teaching verbal behavior to speech deficient or defective young children. In H. N. Sloane & B. D. Macaulay (Eds.),Operant procedures in remedial language training. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1968.
Snow, C. E. Mothers' speech to children learning language.Child Development, 1972,43, 549–565.
Spradlin, J. E., & Rosenberg, S. Complexity of adult verbal behavior in a dyadic situation with retarded children.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1964,58, 694–698.
Tomlinson-Keasey, C. Conditioning of infant vocalizations in the home environment.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1972,120, 75–82.
Whitehurst, G. J. Production of novel and grammatical utterances by young normal children. Unpublished manuscript. SUNY at Stony Brook, 1970.
Whitehurst, G. J. Generalized labeling on the basis of structural response classes by two young children.Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1971,12, 59–71.
Yule, W., & Berger, M. Behavior modification principles and speech delay. In M. Rutter & J. A. M. Martin (Eds.),The child with delayed speech. Clinics in Developmental Medicine, No. 43, London: Wm. Heinemann, 1972.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are most grateful to our colleagues Dr. Lionel Hersov and Mr. William Yule for many helpful suggestions in developing the measures and for their comments on an earlier draft of the paper. The study is supported by a grant from the (British) Department of Health and Social Security.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Howlin, P., Cantwell, D., Marchant, R. et al. Analyzing mothers' speech to young autistic children: A methodological study. J Abnorm Child Psychol 1, 317–339 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917631
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917631