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.
Mother-Child Relations; Autistic Disorder; Communication; Intervention Studies
