The Modified- Classroom ObservationScheduletoMeasureIntenticnaCommunication( M-COSMIC): EvaluationofReliabilityandValidity

Modified COSMIC 3

1. Social and communication impairment in ASD

While social and communication impairments are core features of autism spectrum
disorders (ASD; American Psychiatric Association, 2000; World Health Organisation, 1993),
wide variation is present. Some individuals with ASD make their needs known only through
non-specific vocalizations or the instrumental use of others’ bodies, whereas others develop
fluent and age-appropriate levels of speech. Along with variation in such forms of
communication, the functional and social uses of communication - pragmatics - are also
significantly impaired in ASD (Wetherby, 1986). While very low-functioning children may
demonstrate little spontaneous verbal communication, frequently, these youngsters can
communicate for the purpose of behaviour-regulation, making requests or responding through
protest (Wetherby, Yonclas, & Bryan, 1989). Impairments are more readily apparent in the
frequency and quality of communication bids for the purposes of sharing experiences and
interests with others (e.g., signaling enjoyment and establishing joint attention; Leekam, Lopez,
& Moore, 2000; Mundy, Sigman, & Kasari, 1990; Sigman, Mundy, Sherman, & Ungerer, 1986).
Wetherby (1986) proposed a model for the ontogeny of communicative functions in children
with ASD. The suggestion is that, unlike the synchronous development seen in typically
developing children, children with ASD display an uneven pattern of communicative
development, in the following predictable sequence: regulation of behaviour (e.g., protesting and
requesting), followed by dyadic social interaction (attracting and maintaining attention to
oneself; e.g., showing off, social routines), and finally directing another’s attention to an object
or event (joint attention; e.g., commenting and requesting information). Empirical research using
both cross sectional and longitudinal designs has been found to support this model (e.g., Curcio,

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