Language and communication in children with autism: Do research and clinical practice converge in Denmark?

This paper takes a critical look at two assumptions about communication and language in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which seem to exist in Denmark and to influence clinical practice. The two assumptions are: (1) pragmatic language abilities are more or less absent in ASD, and (2) other aspects of language are more or less intact in ASD. Given recent evidence, we argue that these assumptions ought to be reconsidered. We trace the origins of the assumptions and examine the clinical implications, with special reference to Danish clinical practice. The review is supplemented by case descriptions of Danish children with ASD, which illustrate the wide variability of ASD and its nuances. Possible specific factors leading to homogenized representations of the otherwise heterogeneous ASD population are proposed and discussed, including the nature of diagnostic manuals and the basic conditions for research. The paper concludes with an outlook for future clinical practice in Denmark.