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