Detecting Features of Autism in Thousand Oaks and New Delhi,Children with Severe Learnin Difficulties: A Brief Report

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a questionnaire to identify specific behaviours that differentiate children with severe learning difficulties with autism from children with severe learning difficulties without autism. Using teachers' reports of current behaviour, the results showed that six behaviours significantly differentiated these two groups of children. Children in the autism group showed less joint attention (pointing for interest and showing) and less eye gaze (in general and to clarify ambiguity). In addition, they showed less functional and imaginative play and more unusual or restricted interests and stereotyped motor behaviours.