Nonverbal Skills Evolution in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder One Year Post-Diagnosis

Abstract

Background: Gestural production, a crucial aspect of nonverbal communication, plays a key role in the development of verbal and socio-communicative skills. Delays in gestural development often impede verbal acquisition and social interaction in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although various interventions for ASD focus on improving socio-communicative abilities, they consistently highlight the importance of integrating gestures to support overall communication development. This study aimed to investigate the progression of gestural production in preschoolers with ASD one year post-diagnosis, taking into account whether they had received interventions for ASD. Method: This study followed 76 Italian preschoolers with ASD, aged 2 to 4 years, who underwent three different types of interventions or no intervention at all. Data on gestural production were collected using the MCDI, a standardized parent-proxy report. Results: The results indicate that all groups, regardless of intervention type, experienced increased gesture production, suggesting that interventions, combined with factors like time, symptom severity, and learning differences unique to ASD, positively influence nonverbal communication. This improvement may be due to various factors. On one hand, joint attention and socio-communicative interactions drive progress, while on the other, children with ASD may benefit from learning through non-socially mediated linguistic material. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need to understand individual learning preferences and strategies for developing nonverbal communication skills in children with ASD. Identifying effective strategies early on can enhance both diagnosis and intervention planning, ensuring they are tailored to the specific developmental needs of each child.