Intentionality and communication in four children with Rett syndrome

Abstract

A multiple case study design was used to describe the cognitive and communicative behaviours of four girls with Rett syndrome (RS). Three of the subjects were at a preintentional level of communication, while one subject made infrequent attempts to communicate with intent, and had retained some words acquired before the regression of skills characteristic of RS. Communication levels for all subjects seemed to be consistent with cognitive status. Dyspraxia, however, seemed to interfere with the communicative attempts of the one subject with retained speech.