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Verbal Communication Impairments of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Northern Bangladesh: An Exploration of Maternal, Environmental and Socio-demographic Determinants

By: Adam Abdullah, Md. Redwanur Rahman, Mohammed. Misbah Uddin, Kh. Nazia Afroz

Key Words: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Verbal communication, Child Neurodevelopment, Bangladesh

01 IES Volume- 12-01 pg43-54, December 2025.

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One major sign is difficulty with verbal communication, which makes it far harder for kids to learn and interact with others. Today, more individuals in low- and middle-income countries are developing ASD. Information and data on the correlates of the verbal deficit in Bangladesh are scarce. The aim of this study was to identify maternal, environmental, and sociodemographic factors associated with verbal communication impairment among autistic children in northern Bangladesh. A mixed-methods approach was applied. Quantitative data were obtained from 246 parents/caregivers of autistic children aged 3 to 18, enrolled with the Ministry of Social Welfare in two divisions (Rajshahi and Rangpur) in Bangladesh. To measure how well people communicated, we used an ordinal scale with the following options: “never,” “rarely,” “occasionally,” and “frequently.” Predictors included sociodemographic characteristics, environmental exposures, and maternal health and pregnancy-related conditions. Bivariate relationships were assessed using the chi-square test, and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were estimated using multivariate ordinal logistic regression. Qualitative results were derived from 16 case studies and 16 key informant interviews. There was a low correlation between communication outcomes and delivery modality, as indicated by bivariate analysis (χ² = 7.80, p = .050). There were no significant independent factors from the multivariate analysis. The model classification was effective, with a Nagelkerke R2 of 0.170. Qualitative findings described stigma, caregiver burden, and limited access to speech treatment as common barriers to verbal development. Traditional maternal, environmental, and sociodemographic factors explain few differences in the verbal results. These findings underscore the impact of postnatal factors, including access to early intervention, caregiver responsiveness, and speech therapy. Those who want to enhance the language capabilities of autistic children must focus on educating caregivers and securing strong cooperation from every child in school.

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Adam Abdullah, Md. Redwanur Rahman, Mohammed. Misbah Uddin, Kh. Nazia Afroz

Verbal Communication Impairments of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Northern Bangladesh: An Exploration of Maternal, Environmental and Socio-demographic Determinants

01 IES Volume- 12-01 pg43-54, December 2025.

https://jenvosci.com/ies-publish/verbal-communication-impairments-of-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorders-in-northern-bangladesh-an-exploration-of-maternal-environmental-and-socio-demographic-determinants/

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