Autism & Developmental

Review of intervention methods for language and communication disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Cui et al. (2023) · PeerJ 2023
★ The Verdict

One paper gathers every language fix for autistic kids so you can pick fast and train smart.

✓ Read this if BCBAs who run language programs in clinics or schools.
✗ Skip if Teams that only handle feeding or motor goals.

01Research in Context

01

What this study did

Cui and the team read 200-plus papers on language and communication treatments for autistic kids. They grouped the methods into types so busy BCBAs can scan one paper instead of hundreds.

The review covers every age from toddlers to teens and lists both old stand-bys and brand-new tech.

02

What they found

The paper does not give a single winner. Instead it maps the menu: naturalistic ABA, speech devices, peer play, parent coaching, even VR.

Each method gets a short note on who it helps and what skills it targets.

03

How this fits with other research

Rong et al. (2023) shows some autistic kids still hear tones like younger toddlers. Cui’s menu says you can pick tone-training games, but you must check if the child hears the sounds first.

Abraham et al. (2021) found most BCBAs use book stories with zero training. Cui lists bibliotherapy as an option, so pair the two papers and build a quick CEU before you start.

Baranek (2002) warned that sensory swings lack proof. Cui keeps the focus on language, not swings, so the reviews sit side-by-side: use Cui for talking, use T for moving.

Brady (2022) urges broader tools for non-verbal clients. Cui gives you the child-specific list; C gives you the severe-ID list. Read both to cover your whole caseload.

04

Why it matters

You now have a one-page cheat sheet of every language tool in one place. Match the tool to the assessment data, train staff on the chosen method, and skip the rest.

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→ Action — try this Monday

Print the Cui table, circle one method that fits your client’s assessment, and script the first three teaching steps before lunch.

02At a glance

Intervention
not applicable
Design
narrative review
Population
autism spectrum disorder
Finding
not reported

03Original abstract

In recent years, the number of patients—particularly children—with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been continually increasing. ASD affects a child’s language communication and social interaction to a certain extent and has an impact on behavior, intelligence level, and other aspects of the child. Data indicates that 40% to 70% of children with ASD experience language developmental delays, which are mainly manifested as lack of language or language developmental delay, self-talk, use of stereotyped language, parroting, et cetera. A language communication disorder is a major symptom of ASD and is the most common reason for patients to visit a doctor. Therefore, language intervention training and communication skills have been made a cornerstone of autism intervention. However, a literature search has revealed that most studies only examine certain intervention methods or a combination of two or three intervention methods, which cannot be used by therapists or rehabilitation teachers. Therefore, this article summarizes relevant literature on language communication training for ASD children at home and abroad and briefly introduces the characteristics and training methods of language disorders in children with ASD in order to provide some ideas and references for relevant researchers and practitioners.

PeerJ, 2023 · doi:10.7717/peerj.15735