In the Middle East, comparative research still clings to outdated terms like “normal.” Take this absurd study as an example: they set out to investigate “language problems such as pronoun reversal, echolalia, and articulation defects” in 9 autistic children (7 boys, 2 girls) aged 5–7 years.

The study, conducted at the Hama’em Al Salam Centre for the Treatment of Autistic Children in Iraq, involved recording the children’s speech for one year. Their focus? “Articulation defects.” For example:

– Target word: *sun* → Child’s pronunciation: *shun* (distortion of /s/ into /ʃ/).

– Target word: *rabbit* → Child’s pronunciation: *wabbit* (distortion of /r/ into /w/).

Their conclusion? Iraqi autistic kids are framed as *lazy*! The researcher claims: “Pronunciation errors or articulation defects of autistic children are not of a physical abnormality only but also due to the psychological disorder… as autistic children tend to isolate themselves and pronounce words with less effort.”

The researcher, Asst. Prof. Ihssan Abdulkadhum Jabor AL-Muslimawi (Department of English, University of Kufa), seems more driven by their English skills than any scientific or clinical expertise. This framing of autistic children as lazy is shameful and harmful.

Write to them:

📧 **Asst. Prof. Ihssan Abdulkadhum Jabor AL-Muslimawi**

ihssana.almuslimawi@uokufa.edu.iq

CC: **Kufa Journal of Arts**

📧 Prof. Dr. Ahmed Shaker Abd Alalaq

ahmed.alallaq@uokufa.edu.iq

Full article: https://www.iasj.net/iasj/download/2c70f6aaca981046