Does Attention play a role in communication?

Attention is a precursor to communication and necessary component to learn alternative forms of communication (PECS, sign language, picture boards). Attention can be impacted by interference both internally and externally. Attention has many forms including automatic (unconscious),controlled, sustained, alternating, or focused. An automatic response would be in a pattern that required less focus, or did not take you away from your task. Consider a child at play. A typically developing child may walk into a room of children playing at a table and join them in play, even conversation. A controlled response would be if an ASD child walked into the room and had to concentrate on walking to the table (praxis), then focused on trying to play, or express language skills. He may have difficulty alternating between tasks, demonstrating more perseverance patterns or repetition. Recent studies identify ASD individuals as experiencing difficulty alternating attention.
Attention is a major component to autism and early development. If a child cannot attend to a more demanding task, or regulate interference from internal/external stimuli then learning can be delayed or impaired.

How do can we effect attention?

Attention can be directly affected by making sure selected tasks are motivating, intrinsically stimulating, reducing interference from environment and making sure environmental complexity is structured to allow successful interactions while promoting learning.