The purpose of this article is to present evidence for the use of language play by
children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) within the context of play with peers.
A conceptual framework for the development of language play is described. This framework,
which is supported by the literature on language play in typically developing children,
is used to assess patterns of language play in children with ASD. The findings of
a descriptive study are used to provide evidence for language play in the speech of
children with ASD during interactions with typical peers and show that children with
ASD use language play in a similar way as their typically developing peers with the
exception of age of occurrence. Implications for clinicians in their work with children
with ASD are discussed as they relate to the existence of language play in children
with ASD and the function of language play as a tool for language learning.
Language play - autism spectrum disorders (ASD) - children - language development
