Communication

Communication can be divided into three primary areas:

• Comprehension (Understanding)
• Production (Speaking)
• Social Language (Pragmatics)

Individuals with ASD may have difficulties in one or all of these areas. Social Language difficulties will always be present, but difficulties with understanding and speaking may also be present. As with the typical population, individuals with ASD have varying cognitive skills (intelligence). Cognitive level of development has a direct influence on the level of language skills developed. Individuals with ASD may experience any of the speech and language difficulties that other children and adults experience, however some conditions (as mentioned below) are more commonly experienced with ASD.