Pointing to Show Something Interesting
Video Summary
By 9 to 12 months, typically developing children will often coordinate pointing and eye gaze to direct their caregiver's attention to things they like or want in a process known as joint attention. Children with autism, however, often do not point, or may do so only without coordinated eye gaze or concern for their caregiver. In this segment, Dr. Soorya explains that in addition to having poor joint attention, a child with autism will often fail to utilize speech and appropriate facial expressions when trying to direct the attention of others.
"While some children on the autism spectrum may point, its important to look at when a child points: is it only to request or when he needs help? Or is it also to share or show you something?"
— Latha Soorya, PhD
Keywords
- Nonverbal Behaviors Used in Social Interaction
- lack of facial expressions
- facial expressions
- lack of eye contact
- eye contact
- Nonverbal Communicative Skills
- lack of pointing
- unusual pointing
- pointing to show
- pointing to request
- Social Interaction
- lack of shared enjoyment
- lack of joint attention
- Social Interaction
- joint attention
- Social Interaction
- not following a gaze
- not following a point
- Social Interaction
- following a point
- Verbal Communicative Skills
- lack of communicative intent
- lack of expressive language