The aim of this study was to report the case of a child with autistic characteristics, who was deprived from stimulus due to maternal negligence. A male two-year-old child was assessed and followed by the team of a University's Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) Clinic. He was diagnosed with language disorder as part of a global development disorder, and referred to language therapy. Due to the fact that the child had nutritional and global development deficits, he was also referred to medical care and to an institution specialized in autistic patients. Throughout the SLP intervention process, the child showed increase of eye contact, acceptance of body contact, more interest in objects, beginning of vocalizations and decrease of the repetitive movements. However, the therapeutic results were limited by the problematic setting. Intervention was carried out with collaboration from the daycare facilities that the child attended and also from other assistance organs, since there was a formal denunciation regarding the mother's negligence. This case report aims to show that, in severe cases, a global intervention, with involvement of several health professionals, is necessary to provide the development of all the impaired aspects. Family support is fundamental to the child's development, thus, it is not possible to state whether the subject's behaviors were determined by the deprivation of sensory stimulus or by the severity of the autism. Therefore, investigation and intervention work must be continued.
Autistic disorder; Sensory deprivation; Child abuse; Language development disorders