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The topic of interest and emphasis of this research pertains to the communication deficits associated with many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how these deficits can in turn lead to difficulties expressing and communicating private events of pain, sickness, and injury. Wetherby and Prizant explain that, “the communication and language impairments of children with autism range from failure to develop any functional speech to the development of functional but idiosyncratic use of spontaneous speech and language” (Prizant & Weatherby, 2007, p. 109). Michael May and Craig Kennedy (2010) conducted a review of available supports and research related to individuals with intellectual disabilities and the possibility of health and medical risks. In their research they describe that,
Good health significantly improves a person’s quality of life. However, people with intellectual disabilities disproportionately have more health problems than the general population. Further complicating the matter is that people with more severe disabilities often cannot verbalize health complications they are experiencing, which leads to health problems being undiagnosed and untreated. (May & Kennedy, 2010, p. 4)
This area of the field is vital to study further, as a future practicing Behavior Analyst, since one of the largest populations served by BCBAs are individuals with ASD, who have limited to no vocal communication skills. Examining this topic in greater detail will allow further insight into how to best support individuals with communication deficits and ideally prevent further health and medical issues from occurring.
This research will begin by exploring the history of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the limited languages skills often characteristic of the diagnosis. Specifically, the history and development of ASD into the social and communication disorder that it is recognized as today (Tager-Flusberg, Paul, & Lord, 2013, p. 336). Establishing the diagnosis of Autism as a communication disorder is significant to addressing the implications of these deficits, such as the expression of medical and health concerns. Additionally, reflecting on the services and supports that have historically been provided to treat and develop these individuals’ communication will provide a historical lens to examine the effectiveness of these previous treatments at addressing the communicative deficits characteristic of Autism. Evaluating past treatments will then transition to an analysis and discussion of the behavioral elements and theoretical underpinnings of this topic. This will be followed by an in-depth review of the current available treatments demonstrating how Applied Behavior Analysis as a field can target the common communicative deficits, associated with ASD, in order to help this population access appropriate medical treatment. With this topic and the inherent implications and risks of serious health and medical concerns, due to restricted communic