Joint attention: speech therapy guide
Joint attention is the ability to share an attentional focus with another person on an object or event. It is a foundational skill for communication and language development. Its absence or delay is an important early sign of ASD.
👀 Joint attention resources
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Responding to joint attention: following another's gaze or pointing.
Initiating joint attention: drawing another's attention to something (pointing, showing, alternating gaze between object and person).
Development
6-9 months: follows adult's gaze. 9-12 months: points to request (proto-imperative). 12-18 months: points to share (proto-declarative), gaze alternation.
Importance for language
💡 Why it's crucial
Joint attention allows the child to learn words: when an adult names an object, the child must look at the same object to make the word-referent connection. Without joint attention, vocabulary learning is compromised.
Early intervention
Position yourself facing the child, at their height.
Follow their interest: comment on what they are looking at.
Exaggerate expressions: draw their attention to the face.
Interactive games: peek-a-boo, bubbles, nursery rhymes with gestures.
Point explicitly and name.
