Profiles of Commimicative Abilities in Hong Kong Autistic Children

Abstract This study investigated profiles of communicativemeans,and functions in Hong Kong autistic children at a beginning stage of language development,From six autistic and six normal children matched with language stages, communication samples were obtained and,analysed,using the Communication,and,Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS; Wetherby & Prizant, 1990), with little cultural adaptation. The results showed that,, despite both groups used gestures to regulate the behavior of another person most often, autistic children at earlier language stages showed relative weakness to communicate with verbal means and the joint attentional function, comparing to autistic children with more advanced language and all normal children. The weakness,in joint attention was especially significant in female, rather than male, autistiG children. Moreover, in autistic children, communicative functions vary according to stages of language development while in normal children, this correlation was not significant. Implications of the data for assessment and treatment arejaiscussed. 2