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Course Prerequisites:  

Basic knowledge of neuropsychology, with some background in the area of language and cognition

Prior knowledge of pervasive developmental disabilities is not required
    Course Description:  

This course focuses on language and communication abilities within the autism spectrum.  A brief overview will be presented of the cognitive, social and behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorders, including discussion of associated conditions.  Evidence regarding the language phenotype in autism spectrum disorders will be examined. Finally, clinical issues related to early identification/assessment and intervention approaches for autism spectrum disorders will be considered.



    I.      Brief overview of cognitive, social, and behavioral characteristics associated with classic autism and other autism spectrum disorders
    II.     Conditions associated with autism, including mental retardation, Fragile X syndrome, seizure disorders
    III.    Historical and contemporary view of language and communication in the autism spectrum
    IV.    Determining the language and communication phenotype in autism spectrum disorders: examining the evidence
                A.    Adult and adolescent language processing
                B.    Early developmental language profiles, including regression
                C.    Language outcomes in autism spectrum disorders
                D.    Comparisons to other populations with language disorders
    V.     Early identification/assessment of language and communication skills in the autism spectrum
    VI.    Language intervention approaches for autism spectrum disorders


Required Reading:
Aldred, C., Green, J., & Adams, C. (2004). A new social communication intervention for children with autism: Pilot randomised controlled treatment study suggesting effectiveness. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 45(8), 1420-1430. 

Bishop, D. V., & Norbury, C. F. (2002). Exploring the borderlands of autistic disorder and specific language impairment: A study using standardised diagnostic instruments. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 43(7), 917-929. 

Bishop, D. V., Maybery, M., Wong, D., Maley, A., Hill, W., & Hallmayer, J. (2004). Are phonological processing deficits part of the broad autism phenotype? American Journal of Medical Genetics, 128B(1), 54-60. 

Charman, T., Drew, A., Baird, C., & Baird, G. (2003). Measuring early language development in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder using the MacArthur communicative development inventory (infant form). Journal of Child Language, 30(1), 213-236. 

Dawson, G., Webb, S., Schellenberg, G. D., Dager, S., Friedman, S., & Aylward, E. et al. (2002). Defining the broader phenotype of autism: Genetic, brain, and behavioral perspectives. Development and Psychopathology, 14(3), 581-611. 

Michelotti, J., Charman, T., Slonims, V., & Baird, G. (2002). Follow-up of children with language delay and features of autism from preschool years to middle childhood. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 44(12), 812-819.

Tager-Flusberg, H., & Joseph, R. M. (2003). Identifying neurocognitive phenotypes in autism. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 358(1430), 303-314. 


Optional Reading:               
de Fossé, L., Hodge, S. M., Makris, N., Kennedy, D. N., Caviness, V. S., Jr, & McGrath, L. et al. (2004). Language-association cortex asymmetry in autism and specific language impairment. Annals of Neurology; Published online: October 11, 2004 (DOI: 10.1002/ana.20275).  

Gernsbacher, M.A., Geye, H. M., & Ellis Weismer, S. (In press). The role of language and communication impairments within autism. In P. Fletcher & J.F. Miller (Eds.), Language disorders and developmental theory.  Philadelphia: John Benjamins. 

Kaufmann, W. E., Cortell, R., Kau, A. S., Bukelis, I., Tierney, E., & Gray, R. M. et al. (2004). Autism spectrum disorder in fragile X syndrome: Communication, social interaction, and specific behaviors. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 129A(3), 225-234. 

Wetherby, A.M. & Prizant, B.M. (Eds.). (2000). Austism spectrum disorders: A developmental, transactional perspective.  Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing.