Imitation Effects on Joint Attention Behaviors of Children with Autism

Effects of Eye Gaze Direction on Vocal Imitation in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Does Joint Attention Matter?

Several recent studies showed the effect of eye gaze direction on both instructed and spontaneous imitative behavior, as well as the acquisition of action-effect binding. In particular, direct eye gaze of a model gesturer/talker, compared to averted eye gaze, gives rise to faster gesture imitation and better vocal imitation, and reinforces intersubjective stimulus-effect learning. In an experim...

Examination of Joint Attention and Oromotor Imitation in Young Children

Dyadic orienting and joint attention in preschool children with autism.

Acts of dyadic orienting (responses to attention bids by a researcher) and acts of joint attention (e.g. pointing and showing behaviors) were observed in preschool children with autism and children with developmental delay. Children with autism responded to fewer adult vocal and non-vocal attention bids that were made singly and by combining modalities (e.g. name call plus touch). Sensitivity i...

Early predictors of communication development in young children with autism spectrum disorder: joint attention, imitation, and toy play.

This study investigated the unique contributions of joint attention, imitation, and toy play to language ability and rate of development of communication skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sixty preschool-aged children with ASD were assessed using measures of joint attention, imitation, toy play, language, and communication ability. Two skills, initiating protodeclara...

Infants with autism: an investigation of empathy, pretend play, joint attention, and imitation.

Systematic studies of infants with autism have not been previously carried out. Taking advantage of a new prospective screening instrument for autism in infancy (S. Baron-Cohen et al., 1996), the present study found that, compared with developmentally delayed and normally developing children, 20-month-old children with autism were specifically impaired on some aspects of empathy, joint attentio...