Implication of autism spectrum disorders on Yoruba language acquisition of children with intellectual disabilities

In Africa and Nigeria in particular, the cases of the autism spectrum are on the increase daily, but with little research to look inward on its effect on language acquisition, and Yoruba language acquisition in particular. The study is therefore aimed at investigating the implication of the autism spectrum on the Yoruba language acquisition of children with intellectual disabilities in the southwest states of Nigeria. A descriptive survey design will be applied to the study. The six (6) states of Southwest Nigeria, will be enumerated. The sample for this study will be fifty autistic students with intellectual disabilities randomly selected from public primary schools in the South-West States of Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique will be used to sample schools for the study. The following scales will be used to collect all necessary data include the Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) (r=0.75), the Yoruba Word Recognition and Comprehension Inventory (YWRCI) (r=0.81), and the Teaching Observation Performance Scale (r=0.76). The research questions and hypotheses will be formulated and tested at a 0.05 significance level. Data will be collected and analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The study found that there is significant difference in the implications (negative and positive) and learners with intellectual disabilities (Crit-t = 2.32, Cal-t = .921, df = 97, P>.05). Furthermore, it was obvious that there is a relative contribution of each of the independent variables on the dependent: Social development (β = .309, P