An overview of some of the recent developments in experimental research on early infantile autism considers related issues such as language impairments, cognitive and affective deficits, nonverbal communication, social behavior, and therapeutic interventions. Research indicates that difficulty with abstract use of language and with pragmatic language are among impairments seen in autistic young children. Recent research also indicates that the fundamental deficit in autism is an affective rather than a cognitive deficit as previously believed. In the area of nonverbal communication, it has been demonstrated that autistic children have particular difficulty with behaviors requiring the coordination of attention between self and others, such as pointing or showing. Therapies to improve autistic children's social behavior have just begun to be developed. The important question to be addressed in all further research in this area is the extent to which early intervention can alter the course of development in autism, particularly as it relates to social development. (CB)