The Mother’s Experience with Communication of an Elementary School-aged Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study conducted a phenomenological analysis of the meaning and essence of mothers’ experiences of communication with elementary-school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to determine the significance and nature of the communication experienced by mothers of elementary-school-aged children with ASD, and to provide foundational data for practical discussions of the communication challenges the mothers of these children faced. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight mothers of elementary school children with ASD. Employing Giorgi’s phenomenological research method, data analysis identified 172 semantic units, 37 sub-components, and 11 components: the precipice of vulnerability, a coldly turned away world, communication in wonderland, an endless tunnel, the limits of encountered improvement, deficiencies in educational functioning, warmth in the cold, a mother as a great mentor, a restorative community in the family, a faint light across the dark tunnel, and a journey toward a narrow gate. These 11 components converged onto a “journey toward the sun requiring courage and adventurous spirit.” Discussion of the outcomes of this study expands the domains for providing support to communication in elementary school-aged children with ASD and their mothers, and highlights the potential for increased societal interest in this area.