Language and Communication Quiz

The DSM diagnostic criteria for autism includes impaired social communication, defined as:

• Difficulties with nonverbal communication

• Difficulties with reciprocity

• Difficulties understanding social perspectives

• All of the above

Answer explanation

Social communication features of autism (APA, 2013): difficulty with nonverbal communication: atypical eye contact, use of gestures, facial expression; difficulty with reciprocity: atypical interactions, back-and-forth conversation; less sharing interests, feelings; and difficulty understanding social perspectives which impedes building relationships.

Approximately ____ % of individuals with autism remain nonspeaking.

• 5

• 10

• 30

• 50

Answer explanation

Approximately 30% or more of individuals with autism remain nonspeaking, although this statistic is continuously changing due to advances in early diagnosis and treatment.

The functions of communication refer to the many purposes or reasons to convey a message, for example:

• Request, comment, express feelings

• Argue, negotiate, disagree

• Initiate, maintain, terminate

• Talk, read, write

Answer explanation

Communicative functions include, but are not limited to: request own needs (i.e., ask for item/activity); respond to others (i.e., answer question); reject (i.e, indicate no or desire to be finished); comment (i.e., describe events); request information (i.e., ask questions); express feelings (i.e., "I feel sick"); Use prosocial statements (i.e., say "thank you" or give a compliment)

Verbal rituals in autism can occur for a variety of reasons, including: 

• When the individual with autism wants others to leave them alone

• When the individual with autism is frustrated

• As a way to interact with others and/or express feelings

• Challenging behaviors that should be extinguished

Answer explanation

These verbal rituals, like echolalia and other ritualistic behavior, can occur for a variety of reasons, including an effort to interact with others, or an expression of anxiety and need to calm oneself, or an expression of another emotion.

Communication is __________.

• An interactive exchange between two or more people

• A symbolic, rule-based system

• A motor skill

• Another term for language

Answer explanation

Communication is an interactive exchange between two or more people to express needs, feelings, and ideas. It is a fundamental social skill.    

Non-speaking individuals with autism benefit from learning sign language or another augmentative communication system in the following ways: 

• Increased functional communication and rate of developing speech

• Decrease rate of developing speech when compared to non AAC users

• Increased rate of problem behaviors

• Decreased rate of meaningful communication

Answer explanation

There are obvious benefits of using AAC systems with non-speaking individuals, specifically: Increased communication competence and functional communication; Increased rate of developing speech in comparison to those who do not use AAC systems and decreased rate of problem behaviors associated with poor communication skills and associated communication frustration.

Echolalia is __________________.  

• A type of speech impairment

• A type of motor impairment

• The repetition of another's speech

• A form of augmentative communication

Answer explanation

Echolalia refers to the repetition of others' speech that may occur immediately after hearing a message or significantly later. Immediate echolalia refers to repeating a word or phrase just spoken by another person, while delayed echolalia refers to repetition of a word or phrase that was previously heard and is used at a later time "out of context".

Ritualistic or stereotypic behaviors are also referred to as __________ behaviors.

• Repetitive

• Socially inappropriate

• Atypical

• Self-stimulatory

Answer explanation

Repetitive behaviors, also referred to as ritualistic or stereotypic behaviors, impact the communication and social skills of individuals with autism. Their internal drive to repeat what they do contributes to their different behavior patterns, and their repetitive speech patterns accentuate their atypical way of interacting with others.

What is an important tip to remember about speech, language and communication?

• Speech is necessary for communication to occur

• You can use language without communicating

• Language and communication are synonymous

• None of the above

Answer explanation

When thinking about the differences between language, speech, and communication, remember that you can communicate without language, you can use language without communicating, you can use speech without communicating, you can use language without speech, and you can communicate without speech.