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Cited by 649Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentAction Observation and Synchronization

Imitation performance in toddlers with autism and those with other developmental disorders

Rogers, Sally J., Hepburn, Susan L., Stackhouse, Tracy, Wehner, Elizabeth·2003·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1111/1469-7610.00162
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Abstract

Background: The present study sought to examine the specificity, developmental correlates, nature and pervasiveness of imitation deficits very early in the development of autism. Methods: Subjects were 24 children with autism (mean age 34 months), 18 children with fragile X syndrome, 20 children with other developmental disorders, and 15 typically‐developing children. Tasks included manual, oral‐facial, and object oriented imitations, developmental measures, joint attention ability, and motor abilities. Results: Children with autism were found to be significantly more impaired in overall imitation abilities, oral‐facial imitation, and imitations of actions on objects than children in all of the other groups. Imitation skills of young children with fragile X syndrome were strongly influenced by the absence or presence of symptoms of autism. For children with autism, imitation skills were strongly correlated with autistic symptoms and joint attention, even when controlling for developmental level. For comparison groups, imitation was related to other developmental abilities including play, language, and visual spatial skills. Neither motor functioning nor social responsivity accounted for a significant amount of variance in imitation scores, when controlling for overall developmental level, which accounted for much of the variation in imitation ability. Conclusions: Simple imitation skills were differentially impaired in young children with autism, and lack of social cooperation did not account for their poor performance. In autism, imitation skills clustered with dyadic and triadic social interactions and overall developmental level, but were not related to play or language development. For comparison children, all these areas were inter‐related. Hypotheses about a specific dyspraxic deficit underlying the imitation performance in autism were not supported.

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Authors
Rogers, S. J., Hepburn, S. L., Stackhouse, T., & Wehner, E.
Affiliations
University of Colorado Health (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-07
Volume
44
Issue
5
Pages
763-781
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
DOI
10.1111/1469-7610.00162
OpenAlex
W2073708086
Cited by
648
References
94
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 50
FWCI
11.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Public Health Service (2T73MC00011-04)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P01HD035468, L30 HD048361, U19HD035468, P01 HD35468)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
Keywords
imitation, autism spectrum disorder, toddlers, fragile X syndrome, developmental disorders, joint attention, motor abilities, social responsiveness, developmental level, social interaction, play, language development, visuospatial ability
MeSH terms
Apraxias, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Child, Preschool, Cognition Disorders, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Fragile X Syndrome, Humans, Imitative Behavior, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Motor Skills Disorders

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