A comprehensive exploration of language development and impairments in Autism
Language is a critical yet understudied component of profiles across the autism spectrum. Language in Autism is a novel, interdisciplinary textbook that addresses this gap by consolidatingcutting-edge linguistic research and evidence-based insights into a single volume accessible to students, teachers, and professionals from a wide variety of disciplines.
Authored by a team of leading experts affiliated with the Language Abilities in Children with Autism (LACA) network, Language in Autism applies what we know about the nature of human languageto the study of language in autism. With 16 finely crafted chapters, the textbook examines a broad range of issues central to language in autism. These include systematic examination of the different language components (the lexicon, phonology, pragmatics, etc.) as well as an array of topics that cut across these components, such as multilingualism, reading, or language in autism compared to other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Designed with students and professionals in mind, Language in Autism incorporates practical tools such as explanatory text boxes, illustrations and structured chapter layouts to enhance comprehension and foster discussion. Each chapter includes foundational knowledge, real-world study examples, and forward-looking perspectives to inspire future research and intervention strategies. Equipping readers with the knowledge to make evidence-based decisions in clinical, educational, and research settings, Language in Autism
- Features insights from the Language Abilities in Children with Autism (LACA) network, presenting the latest findings from psycholinguistics and clinical linguistics
- Follows a consistent and reader-friendly layout, with chapters organized into sections including 'Anchoring', and 'Focus on a Specific Study'
- Integrates pedagogical tools such as 'What Do You Think?'and 'What Do You Know Now?', to engage readers in critical thinking and self-assessment and encourage them to pursue deeper understanding of each topic
- Provides clear explanations of technical terms and acronyms, supported by accessible summaries and examples to enhance understanding
- Includes discussions on emerging directions in language assessment for autistic individuals
- Raises clearly and coherently the challenging issues raised by current views of autism and language in autism
Language in Autism is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students in psycholinguistics, language acquisition, clinical linguistics, education, and speech-language pathology, as well as for medical students and interns. It is also a valuable reference for speech-language pathologists, teachers, physicians, linguists, clinical researchers, and other professionals working with autistic individuals.
Jeannette Schaeffer is Professor of Language Acquisition at the University of Amsterdam. She investigates language acquisition and development across languages and populations, including children with hemispherectomy, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), autism, and, more recently, in minors in conflict with the law. She founded LACA (Language Abilities in Children with Autism) in 2017, an international, collaborative network focusing on the cross-linguistic investigation of language (development) in autism. She has published in leading journals such as Language Acquisition, Applied Psycholinguistics, Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, and Glossa.
Rama Novogrodsky is Associate Professor at the University of Haifa, Israel. She studies typical and atypical language development in various populations, including children with autism, hearing impairment (also those who use sign language), and Developmental Language Disorder. Her work has appeared in journals such as Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, First Language, and Applied Psycholinguistics.
Alexandra Perovic is Associate Professor at University College London. Her research explores monolingual and multilingual language development in autism, Down syndrome and Williams syndrome, and language difficulties in children within the youth justice system. She has published in Developmental Science and Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, among others. She teaches clinical linguistics and language acquisition to postgraduate speech and language therapy students.
Philippe Prévost is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Tours, France. His research, featuring in journals such as Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism and Autism Research, spans across several domains of language development, such as second language acquisition and language development in the context of a neurodevelopmental disorder, including Developmental Language Disorder and autism, in both children and adults.
Laurice Tuller is Professor Emerita of Linguistics at the University of Tours, France, with expertise in psycholinguistics, language pathology, and bilingual language acquisition. She has investigated language profiles in contexts including hearing loss, epilepsy, Developmental Language Disorder, and autism. Her work has been published in Autism Research, Brain and Language, and Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, among others.
