Paternal speech directed to young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and typical development. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bentenuto, Arianna; Perzolli, Silvia; Bertamini, Giulio; Venuti, Paola; de Falco, Simona
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 112(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) -- Intellectual Disability (ID) -- Fathers speech -- Fathers and children; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103886
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: The study highlights the characteristics of fathers' language directed to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Fathers of children with ASD used more description and few questions then fathers of typical development. Fathers of children with ASD adapt different aspects of their language to the degree of child impairments and cognitive functioning. Abstract: Background: Few studies have investigated the characteristics of father language directed to typically developing children (TD), and father speech directed to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is largely under investigated. Considering the importance of involving fathers of children with ASD in research and clinical practice, the main purpose of this study was to investigate paternal speech directed to children with ASD compared to that of fathers of TD children. Methods: To this aim, we coded multiple functional aspects of speech during 10-min naturalistic dyadic play interactions between fathers and their preschool children with ASD (n = 20) and with TD (n = 20). Results: Results showed that fathers of children with ASD displayed a peculiar child-directed language that seems to reflect the effort to provide enhanced scaffolding and reduced demands while sustaining a challenging social interaction. Specifically, fathers of children with ASD used more descriptions, fewer questions in general but more questions about child internal states. Moreover, fathers adapted aspects of their information-salient speech to the severity of child impairments. Conclusions: Our findings support the importance to include fathers in early developmental intervention programs for children with ASD, by underlying fathers' spontaneous adaptation to their children's needs.