Factors related to social communication functionality in children with autism spectrum disorder: a preliminary study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose to analyze the association between social communication functionality in children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to sociodemographic aspects, communicative acts, severity of ASD and family perception. Methods this is the pilot stage of a cross-sectional analytical observational study. Children with ASD were evaluated and their caregivers were interviewed. The variables analyzed were ASD severity, socioeconomic aspects, communicative acts, communicative difficulties and the classification of functionality of social communication. For association analyses, the Pearson and Kruskal-Wallis chi-square tests were used. Results Sixteen children aged between 3 and 10 years were evaluated. The participants included in the study presented median levels of social communication functionality. The children with the greatest social communication difficulties were the ones caregivers had the impression other people made fun of . There was no association regarding communication functionality and socioeconomic aspects, ASD severity and communicative acts per minute. Conclusion This study triangulates the communication functionality of children with ASD with environmental and social factors. Children with ASD in outpatient care at a specialized service showed intermediate levels of social communication. Difficulties in acceptance and social inclusion are more commonly observed in children with ASD with greater communication deficits.