The Role of Joint Attention in Pragmatic Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

All children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present with some form of impairment in social communication. Social cognitive learning theory suggests children’s early joint attention skills provide a foundation for future language development. Preliminary research suggests social cognitive behaviors such as joint attention in the context of parent scaffolding may serve as a mechanism for language development in children with ASD. The current study utilized a parent-child free play task to explore the relations among parent and child attention and responsivity and child pragmatic language in 26 children ages 3:1 to 6:11 and their parents. Parent supported joint attention was assessed during a parent child free-play task. Pragmatic language ability was assessed by the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL; Carrow-Woolfolk, 1999). Developmental status significantly predicted child’s pragmatic language score while controlling for overall verbal ability, F(2, 23) = 6.37, p = 0.01, ΔR2 = .15. Developmental status was not a significant predictor of parent supported joint attention, F(1, 24) = 1.09, p = 0.31, indicating that regardless of developmental status there was no significant difference in the percentage of time parents and children spent in parent supported joint attention. Children with autism spectrum disorders initiated joint attention with their parents (M = 0.28) about half as much as their typically developing peers (M = 0.55). Post hoc analyses indicated for children with ASD in this current study, initiation of joint attention was significantly correlated to child RJA, r = 0.60, p = 0.04, suggesting that child with ASD who initiate joint attention with their parents also spend a larger amount of time responding to their parent’s bids for joint attention. The interaction between developmental status and child RJA was also significant, F = 6.16, p =.02, ΔR2 = .13, indicating that for children with ASD, responsiveness to their parent’s bids for joint attention of their parents plays a significant role for their pragmatic language ability in comparison to children with typically development. Collectively, the nature of these findings provides evidence for supporting social cognition in children with autism

The Role of Joint Attention in Pragmatic Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

All children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present with some form of impairment in social communication. Social cognitive learning theory suggests children’s early joint attention skills provide a foundation for future language development. Preliminary research suggests social cognitive behaviors such as joint attention in the context of parent scaffolding may serve as a mechanism for language development in children with ASD. The current study utilized a parent-child free play task to explore the relations among parent and child attention and responsivity and child pragmatic language in 26 children ages 3:1 to 6:11 and their parents. Parent supported joint attention was assessed during a parent child free-play task. Pragmatic language ability was assessed by the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL; Carrow-Woolfolk, 1999). Developmental status significantly predicted child’s pragmatic language score while controlling for overall verbal ability, F(2, 23) = 6.37, p = 0.01, ΔR2 = .15. Developmental status was not a significant predictor of parent supported joint attention, F(1, 24) = 1.09, p = 0.31, indicating that regardless of developmental status there was no significant difference in the percentage of time parents and children spent in parent supported joint attention. Children with autism spectrum disorders initiated joint attention with their parents (M = 0.28) about half as much as their typically developing peers (M = 0.55). Post hoc analyses indicated for children with ASD in this current study, initiation of joint attention was significantly correlated to child RJA, r = 0.60, p = 0.04, suggesting that child with ASD who initiate joint attention with their parents also spend a larger amount of time responding to their parent’s bids for joint attention. The interaction between developmental status and child RJA was also significant, F = 6.16, p =.02, ΔR 2 = .13, indicating that for children with ASD, responsiveness to their parent’s bids for joint attention of their parents plays a significant role for their pragmatic language ability in comparison to children with typically development. Collectively, the nature of these findings provides evidence for supporting social cognition in children with autism

Undergraduate College Students\u27 Perceptions of Psychologists

We surveyed undergraduate students\u27 perceptions of professional psychologists\u27 characteristics as well as their competency. Overall, psychologists were viewed positively on dimensions surveyed and students perceived psychologists generally as being competent. Treating psychiatric disorders and conducting assessments were said to be among psychologists\u27 overall strong suits. Confusion between psychologists and psychiatrists seemed to exist in students\u27 thinking on some issues. We believe stereotyping also may be an issue that impacts students\u27 constructs regarding professional psychologists

Undergraduate College Students\u27 Perceptions of Psychiatric Nurses

We surveyed undergraduate students\u27 perceptions of psychi­atric nurses\u27 effectiveness and analyzed other sources of data. Stu­dents reported that psychiatric nurses\u27 strengths include helping in situations that involve psychiatric symptoms, mental health evaluation, and drug abuse. Psychiatric nurses also were said to be effective when helping an individual with psychiatric symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations. Friends or associates, common knowledge, school and education, and movies are some sources bv which students learn about psychiatric nurses. Sources that provided less influential information include insurance carriers, newspapers, and personal experience