The language in blind children and the question about autistic-Iike features

Abstract

Hobson et al. (Brown, Hobson. Lee y Stevenson, 1997; Hobson, Brown, Minter y Lee, 1997)ha ve updated the issue of the similarities between autism and congenital blindness. In the pre­ sent paper the empirical evidence in favor of the existence of autistic-lik features in the lan­ guage of blind children is reviewed. and new data from the author's research, are offered. The following topics are examined: (a) The use of personal pronouns, (b) the use of imitations and formulaic speech, (e) the egocentric use of speech, and (d) the capacity for iniciating conver­ sations and for conversational contingency. The analysis puts into question the similarity bet­ ween blind children and autistic children, and seems to disconfirm Hobson 's theory.