Play and language in children with autism.
Play does not reliably lift language in autism, so run separate language checks.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Lewis (2003) read every paper that linked play and language in kids with autism.
The goal was to see if better play really leads to better talking, like it does in typical kids.
What they found
The review found no strong proof that play boosts language in autism.
In typical kids the link is clear. In autism it is weak or missing.
How this fits with other research
Barrett et al. (1987) saw the opposite. They found that functional and symbolic play went hand in hand with language scores in preschoolers with autism.
The clash is simple: one paper says the link is real, the other says it is not. The 1987 study used live tests and numbers. Lewis (2003) looked at the whole field and saw mixed results.
Pratt (1985) warned us first: play research in autism was thin and messy. Vicky’s wider sweep agrees the field is still shaky.
Why it matters
Do not bank on play sessions alone to grow words. Track language directly with good probes. If you run play-based therapy, add clear language targets and measure them each week.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
It is well established that the play and language skills of children with autism are impaired. The article considers the relationship between these developments in typically developing children and children with autism. First, the evidence for a relationship between these two areas in typically developing children is reviewed. Despite many methodological differences between studies, this evidence supports a relationship, with specific developments emerging first in play and subsequently in language. Second, evidence for a relationship between play and language in children with autism is reviewed. From published and some previously unpublished data it is concluded that if there is a relationship between play and language in children with autism it is weak, if it exists at all. Finally, the implications of these findings are discussed and it is suggested that any relationship between play and language may be mediated by how children and their parents interact when they are playing.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2003 · doi:10.1177/1362361303007004005