Reference information:

Bobb, K., Mirenda, P., & Zumbo, B. (2009). Behavior predictors of

language development over 2 years in children with autism
spectrum disorders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing
Research, 52. Retrieved from http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org/.
Topics addressed:
The article discussed a study that was done to look at behaviors and
their influence on vocabulary and language development in children
with autism over a two-year period. The purpose of the study was to
look at what problem behaviors predicted changes in vocabulary and
language skills.
Summary (include question, participants, methods, results)
The study was done look at the relationships between five different
behaviors and vocabulary and language development in children with
autism over the course of two years. 69 children, 55 diagnosed with
autism and 14 diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder
participated in the study, along with their parents. The study looked at
behavior changes, particularly with acting out behaviors, stereotypic
motor behaviors, and repetitive behaviors. The children went through
15 to 20 hours per week, year-round intervention for two years. The
children received services from occupational therapists, speechlanguage pathologists, and anyone else needed. They also went to
school while receiving services. The study found that the more severe
the autism diagnosis prior to intervention, the more difficult language
was for those with autism. Children who were more socially
unresponsive for the first test made less progress over the two years.
Stereotypical behaviors, such as repetitive motor behaviors, did not
correlate with language development. Acting-out behaviors did not
correlate with vocabulary or language development throughout the two
years, although they may have interfered with learning. However,
inattentive behaviors such as not listening to instructors or paying
attention to other things that the task at hand, negatively affected
language development. Children with more inattentive behaviors made
less progress in expressive vocabulary and language comprehension
throughout the two years.
Assess: (follow link for assessment questions)
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/553/03/
The source was very recent, used objective language, and seemed to
be a good mix of information. However, I found that it seemed to have
a lot of information that overstated the study. The study seemed to be
accurate and the results, although surprising, made some sense when
they were discussed more. The content of the source seemed to be
fact as it was a study done to gather information about language
development in children with severe autism.
Reflect:

(How was this source helpful? How does it change how you think about
this topic? How does it support or argue your topic?
This source was helpful because it helped me note how behaviors
associated with autism can affect language development. It is
imperative that children with severe autism receive direct therapy to
help with their attentiveness or else they will struggle with learning,
especially in the expressive vocabulary area.
Its estimated that only 15% of people with autism are self-sufficient as
adults about 15%-20% function with some help.
Annotated Bibliography Worksheet CDIS 402
(Adapted from
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/)