Characteristics of language training in a child with autism

Aim: To provide the method of language training for children with autism by case study. Methods: One child with autism was selected to be the subject. The patient was good in language development before he was 3 years old, while great distance in behavior and language from normal children was found by his parents after he was 3 years old, and the distance was further and further. The child was diagnosed as autism in Shanghai Center of Mental Health in 2005. To analyze the subject's language from three aspects: sentence structure, vocabulary and initiative language, based on which an interventional plan was made to develop the subject's language ability from learning and reading, story-telling, increasing information stimulus, teaching of literacy and creating appropriate situations for language using. Main trainigg for the patient was conducted from July 2005 to June 2006, focusing on the language training and behavior modification, which was normally performed three times a week for totally six hours. Results: After 10 months' training, the abilities of language using of the patient in reading and learing, story telling, information stimulating, situation creating proper for language using were enhanced. Conclusion: The language of children with autism should be analyzed in detail, so as to make proper interventional plan, and the effect can be gained by systematic training.