By Karyn E. Whitney

Florida International University

This issue of NASET’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Series was written by Karyn E. Whitney. Young children with autism exhibit significant communication deficits that may impact their ability to engage in social interactions and develop and maintain relationships (American Psychological Association, 2022). Enhanced social communication skills not only improve children’s social relationships but also predict better self-regulation and academic achievement in kindergarten (Ramsook et al., 2020). While research has established positive effects of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for young children with autism, AAC interventions comprise a variety of strategies that differ widely in cost and complexity (Steinbrenner et al., 2020). The studies discussed here support using an adaptable and relatively simple strategy called aided language modeling, which involves pairing spoken words with graphic symbols to improve the receptive and expressive language of individuals with complex communication needs. Though most existing research involves tightly controlled conditions, two of the studies discussed below support the use of aided language modeling by teachers in real-world classroom settings.

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