Play and Language in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

A cross-sectional comparison design was used to investigate the nature of free play engagement in 2-to-4 year old children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD, n = 10), relative to typically developing children (TD; n=10) matched for chronological age. Free play behaviours were recorded in the familiar environment of the intervention centres for children with autism and home environment for typically developing children. Video recorded samples comprising 10 minutes of the children's free play behaviour were analysed using a coding scheme for play and non play behaviours. The percentage of occurrence of each play behaviour as a function of the total coded behaviours revealed qualitative and quantitative differences between the two groups. Children with ASD demonstrated significantly higher frequency of non play behaviours and sensorimotor play in comparison to TD children. In general, children with higher reception and cognition scores demonstrated a higher frequency of occurrence of functional play behaviours.