MOTOR IMITATION IN YOUNG-CHILDREN WITH AUTISM - WHATS THE OBJECT

Two studies investigated the nature of motor imitation in young childr en with autism. Study 1 compared different types of motor imitation in 18 autistic children, 18 children with developmental delay, and 18 no rmally developing children. Results revealed weaker imitation skills f or the autistic group, though all groups demonstrated a similar patter n of performance across different imitation domains. Imitation of body movements was more difficult than imitation of actions with objects, and imitation of nonmeaningful actions was more difficult than imitati on of meaningful actions. Study 2 investigated concurrent and predicti ve relations between imitation and other developmental skills within a sample of 26 two-year-old children with autism. Results suggested tha t imitation of body movements and imitation of actions with objects re present independent dimensions. Imitation of body movements was concur rently and predictively associated with expressive language skills, an d imitation of actions with objects was concurrently associated with p lay skills. Improvements in both motor imitation domains occurred over a 1-year period.