Speech sounds can help autistic kids develop linguistic skills

London: Children with autism who often suffer impairments in communication can develop their speech, gestures and a sense of rhythm and melody by listening to various speech sounds, says a study. The study, which focussed on the autism spectrum condition (ASC), the range of autistic disorders including Asperger syndrome, revealed a temporal relationship between the systematic organisation of sounds in languages and the melody of speech and gestures.

Also auditory and visual perception can be an important precursor for language development in children with ASC. When the children listen and observe, there is a potential for development of interaction via speech and gestures, the researchers maintained.

Further, children with ASC with much delayed speech are likely to develop their speech as late as at age five, thus, rendering the method beneficial in interventions involving these kids.