Tor: Case study of a boy with autism between the age of three and eight

Longitudinal data are presented on a boy between the ages of three and eight. At age three he received a diagnosis of language impairment and at age six a diagnosis of high-functioning autism. Results are presented from extensive assessments at four points in time, including interviews with his mother and teachers. The results indicate that the boy's core problem was poor language comprehension, especially evident in group situations. The results also show that symptoms of his pragmatic impairment varied over time, partly as a function of contextual demands. A dimensional approach to capture pragmatic difficulties in children is suggested.