The Classroom Observation Schedule to Measure IntentionalCommunication (COSMIC): An Observational Measureof the Intentional Communication of Children with Autismin an Unstructured Classroom Setting

摘要

The Classroom Observation Schedule toMeasure Intentional Communication (COSMIC) wasdevised to provide ecologically valid outcome measures fora communication-focused intervention trial. Ninety-onechildren with autism spectrum disorder aged 6 years10 months (SD 16 months) were videoed during theireveryday snack, teaching and free play activities. Inter-rater reliability was high and relevant items showedsignificant associations with comparable items from con-current Autism Diagnostic Observation ScheduleGeneric(Lord et al. 2000, J Autism Dev Disord 30(3):205-223)assessments. In a subsample of 28 children initial differ-ences in rates of initiations, initiated speech/vocalisationand commenting were predictive of language and com-munication competence 15 months later. Results suggestthat the use of observational measures of intentional communication in natural settings is a valuable assessmentstrategy for research and clinical practice.