Joint Attention is important for social development, language acquisition and cognitive development. It is the ability of an infant to share a common point of reference. The infant learns to coordinate attention with a caregiver. Joint attention is essential to learning, language and social skills. Infants use gestures and eye contact to direct other people's attention to objects or themselves. This involuntary system develops in the first months of life. Joint attention in the first nine months of life contributes to social cognition. It is vital to the development of learning and social understanding. It may be related to the development of human learning and social skills. This is an early form of communication between the infant and the caregiver. By 10 to 11 months of age, babies realize that this focus provides a path to communication. If infants and toddlers experience joint attention, they will maintain attention longer. The will also be able to comprehend more language. They will also learn to speak faster. Between 4 and 6 months of age babies are able to play pat-a-cake and peekaboo with initiation by the caregiver. By 12 months of age, babies can initiate the games. Toddlers learn that language results in them getting something they want. Joint Attention is something that comes natural for normal developing children. Children with Autism have to be taught how to play. Autistic children often do not find meaning in these interactions and will avoid them. Susan Davis
I enjoyed reading your blog. I was interested when you talked about children with autisum often had to be taught how to play peek-a-boo and most often were not respondent to such interaction. I researched infants with autisum and found that usually they are not diagnosed until the age of three. However,research has indicated that as early as 6 weeks old there may be visible signs of autisum. This particular issue interest me. I once watched a film about a young woman named Temple Grandin who had autisum. If you ever get a chance you should watch the movie. It is a true story and really helps develop an understanding of these indiviuals.I used to think that they were underdeveloped and perhaps in some ways they are, but in other areas they appear to be brilliant indiviuals. I thought the blog was very interesting.
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