Speech Therapy Intervention as a Way for Making Differential Diagnoses of Communication Skills for Preschool Children With Shy Behaviour and Children With Autism

Abstract

The aim of this study is to categorize the differential diagnostic criteria of communication skills for preschool children with shy behaviour and children with autism within the speech therapy intervention process. For the current study during the speech therapy intervention process 23 preschool children from 3-5 years old were studied who had communication problems and no speech. To establish the differential diagnostic criteria of communication skills for preschool children with shy behaviour and children with autism observation and complex speech therapy methods were used while combining practical and verbal/non-verbal approaches. The quantitative research methodology was used to generalize and conduct a comparative analysis of the results, in order to emphasize the behavioural characteristics and to outline the existing differences between the means of communication of these children. The analysis of the research results made it possible to compile a comparative description of communication features and indicators of the quality of communication of children with shy behaviour and children with autism. Communication and behavioural problems which are typical for children with shy behaviour and children with autism were clarified and differentiated, as well as the criteria for differential diagnosis of speech and communication features of children with shy behaviour has been established, and speech therapy intervention rules have been developed to overcome those problems.