Communication initiatives in the interaction among children with autistic spectrum disorders and their mothers: pragmatic analysis/Iniciativas de comunicacao na interacao entre criancas com disturbios do espectro autistico e suas maes: analise pragmatica

• Published in: Revista CEFAC Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 993
• Main Authors: Brito, Maria Claudia, Misquiatti, Andrea Regina Nunes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: CEFAC - Associacao Institucional em Saude e Educacao 01.11.2011
• ISSN: 1516-1846; 1982-0216
• DOI: 10.1590/S1516-18462011005000052

Purpose: to investigate the communication initiatives among children with autistic spectrum disorders and their mothers, employing a pragmatic analysis. Method: five children with autistic spectrum disorders, both genders, ages ranging between five and 12-year and their mothers. The control group comprised 5 children with normal development, paired with children with autistic spectrum disorders, according to gender and age and their respective mothers, totaling 20 participants. For the characterization of the sample, an Information Form and a Scale for the Assessment of Autistic Behavior were employed. Each dyad was filmed for 30 minutes during ludic interactions and analyzed according to the Pragmatic Protocol. This instrument evaluates communication initiatives, means and communicative functions. Data were analyzed statistically (p < 0.05; non-parametric tests of Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney were employed). Results: statistically significant differences were observed between the communicative initiatives of children with autistic spectrum disorders and their mothers, when compared to the control group. The dyads which involved children with autistic spectrum disorders showed few communication initiatives and used predominantly gestures and less interactive vocalization. Conclusion: such data turned easier the description of the fundamental aspects for the comprehension of the clinical manifestations in the studied population and also for elaborating intervention programs aiming at improving the quality of life related to the children and their respective families. KEYWORDS: Mother-Child Relations; Autistic Disorder; Communication; Intervention Studies Objetivos: investigar as iniciativas de comunicacao na interacao entre criancas com disturbios do espectro autistico (DEA) e suas maes, por meio de uma analise pragmatica. Metodo: cinco criancas com DEA, de ambos os generos, idades entre cinco e 12 anos juntamente com suas maes. O grupo controle constou de cinco criancas com desenvolvimento normal, pareadas com as criancas com DEA de acordo com genero e idade e suas respectivas maes, totalizando 20 participantes. Para a caracterizacao da amostra foram utilizadas uma Ficha informativa e a Escala de Avaliacao de Tracos Autisticos. Cada diade foi filmada por 30 minutos durante as interacoes ludicas, analisadas a partir do Protocolo de Pragmatica. Este instrumento avalia as iniciativas de comunicacao, meios e funcoes comunicativas expressas. Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente (p < 0,05; foram utilizados os testes nao-parametricos de Wilcoxon e de Mann-Whitney). Resultados: foram observadas diferencas estatisticamente significantes entre as iniciativas comunicativas das criancas com DEA e suas maes, quando comparadas ao grupo controle. As diades que envolveram criancas com DEA iniciaram menos a comunicacao e utilizaram predominantemente gestos e vocalizacoes menos interativas. Conclusoes: estes dados possibilitaram descrever aspectos fundamentais para compreensao das manifestacoes clinicas da populacao estudada e para a elaboracao de programas de intervencao que visem melhorar a qualidade de vida da crianca e sua familia. DESCRITORES: Relacoes Mae-Filho; Transtorno Autistico; Comunicacao; Estudos de Intervencao