Communication Impairment (CI)

Teachers: What you need to know

Special Populations

Autism Spectrum Disorder

According to Tiegerman-Faber (2002), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is comprised of five disorders; Autism, Rett’s disorder, Childhood Disintergrative Disorder (CDD), Aspergers syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). These disorders encompass social, behavioural and communication domains. Students with ASD should be educated in the same manner as students with language and communication disorders because the language learning characteristics of these students is very similar to those students with other language disorders (2002).

It is important for teachers to be aware of what a communicative act from a child with ASD may look like as it is not always obvious. Such acts may take the form of gaze aversion, which may serve as a signal to the teacher that the student is ready to engage in interaction. Likewise, the student may avert their gaze to signal to the teacher that the interaction has ceased.

Other acts may be body gesturing (pointing at an object), vocalising (may be high pitched noises for example), locating self to desired environment or object (walking over to door to signal outside time), basic signing, or using a picture/symbol that represents desired activity or object.

It is estimated that 4 out of 10,000 students have Autism but those with Asperger’s range as high as 20-25% of 10,000. Autism is more common in boys (Carrington & Graham, 1999, p.16).

Students with Asperger’s syndrome may experience difficulties in the classroom. These may be a lack of ability to focus, confusion, literal interpretation of instructions, inability to read social rules and cues, and hypersensitivity. As a result the student may display inappropriate behaviour to indicate frustration or stress. For teachers, this means that brief, concise and concrete instructions must be given and adequate time allowed for them to process the instructions (Carrington & Graham, 1999, p. 19).

More information on Autism and communication impairment can be found at www.aspect.org.au