La comprensione del linguaggio nell'autismo

Children with autism have difficulties understanding language. In this literature review, we will discuss the clinical features of this impairment in a developmental perspective, and we will analyze the putative causes. The processes that potentially underlie this impairment include problems with interconnectivity between brain regions, difficulties with parallel processing and integration of information, the atypical recruitment of visual strategies in the processing of linguistic stimuli and a reduced participation to joint attention episodes in the critical periods for language acquisition. Finally we will discuss treatment programs and treatment strategies that have a documented beneficial effect in dealing with such difficulties.