Doherty M B, Rosenfeld A A
J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1984 Feb;5(1):26-9.
The autistic child's problems with language may be an impairment in symbolic functioning that affects all forms of communication, including representational thought and the ability to play creatively. The hypothesis that autistic children specifically do not project symbolic meaning onto toys (which is not associated with other conditions causing severe language disorder) was tested in a group of 15 severely language-impaired children. Data were obtained from a parent interview/questionnaire and analysis of a video-taped play session. The findings suggest that language-disordered children who meet DSM III criteria for autism most consistently show absence of symbolic play, and those who do have symbolic play fall into a wide range of diagnostic categories excluding autism. The report presents valuable observational and interpretational clinical factors, useful in the assessment and differential diagnosis of a language-impaired child.
自闭症儿童的语言问题可能是一种符号功能障碍，它会影响包括表征性思维和创造性玩耍能力在内的所有交流形式。针对自闭症儿童不会特意将符号意义投射到玩具上这一假设（这与导致严重语言障碍的其他情况无关），对一组15名严重语言障碍儿童进行了测试。数据来自家长访谈/问卷调查以及对录像玩耍环节的分析。研究结果表明，符合《精神疾病诊断与统计手册第三版》自闭症标准的语言障碍儿童最一致地表现出缺乏象征性玩耍，而那些有象征性玩耍的儿童则属于除自闭症外的广泛诊断类别。该报告提出了有价值的观察和解释性临床因素，有助于对语言障碍儿童进行评估和鉴别诊断。
