The Spoken Language of Learners with Autism: A Microstructural Approach

This research analyzed the spoken language of selected learners diagnosed with Autism in Nueva Ecija using a Microstructural analysis. Overall, there were seven autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participants in Bongabon, Cabiao, and San Jose City, Nueva Ecija. Upon the consent of their parents and guardians, they were recorded for one week to gather their spoken language. Afterwards, their recorded spoken language was tabulated in terms of the grammatical approach, grammatical complexity, and lexical diversity. Using Microstructural analysis, this research concluded that among the seven participants in this study, Participant 5 was the most grammatically complex learner; while Participants 1 and 6 were the most language productive and lexically diverse. The parents and guardians of the participants were also interviewed. To validate and triangulate the results of the recording with the interview, the researcher sought the help of experts in the field of Psychology and Linguistics. A course outline was proposed as an output for this research set to develop and monitor the progress of the participants. It is essential that the teachers ensure that the topics provided for the learners follow through the age of equivalent set by Miller (1981) which ranges from <18 to 24 months. Hence, the proposed course outline contains a series of activities with goals for learners to (1) demonstrate basic speaking skills necessary to communicate with their environment; (2) use a range of lexical items to construct sentences and provide basic function; and (3) demonstrate appropriate social behaviors in speaking. It is recommended that their teachers begin teaching these learners with phonology, followed by morphology and syntax before proceeding to discourse.