Differences in verbal and non-verbal linguistic communication between children with mild intellectual disability and children with high functioning autism on al-Ahssa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

The present study aimed at identifying the differences in verbal and non-verbal linguistic communication between children with mild intellectual disability and children with high functioning autism in the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia.

The Sample included (60) children, (30) had mild Intellectual disability, and (30) with high functioning autism.

Children with mild intellectual disability were recruited from mainstream schools.

As for the children with high functioning autism were recruited from both mainstream schools and specialized educational center located in Al-hasa’a district.

A measure of a verbal and non-verbal linguistic communication was used as a tool to achieve the main objectives of the present study.

The tool was applied individually.

Results showed a significant difference in the average of the non- verbal linguistic communication scores between children with mild Intellectual disability and children with high functioning autism.

Children with mild intellectual disability displayed better nonverbal linguistic communication in comparison to children with high functioning autism.

Moreover, no significant difference was found in the average of the verbal- linguistic communication scores between children with mild intellectual disability and children with high functioning autism.

Finally, no significant difference was found between the average of verbal and non - verbal linguistic communication score of children with mild Intellectual disability and children with high functioning autism according to the age group.