Gesture Use in Toddlers with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder: Gestural Differences and Developmental Predictors
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examined the nature and predictors of parent-reported gesture use in a sample of toddlers (mean age: 15.6 months) who screened positive for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).Gesture repertoire size, gesturing frequency, and content of gesture inventories were compared among 21 toddlers with ASD, 19 with Global Developmental Delay (GDD), 26 with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), and 45 with typical development or no diagnosis (TD/ND).The relative contribution of developmental and demographic predictors to gesture production were examined.Children with ASD were reported to have significantly less gesture production than TD/ND peers, but not peers with GDD or DLD.Frequency in use of deictic gestures, as well as some conventional gestures primarily used in dyadic interaction, was significantly reduced in the ASD group compared to the TD/ND group.Receptive language skills (in particular, understanding of phrases), child's sex, and fine motor skills predicted gesture use in the whole sample, after accounting for all other factors.Parent-reported gesture use demonstrated concurrent validity with clinician gesture ratings, suggesting validity of use of parent measures to assess early gesture production in young toddlers at risk for ASD.Findings provide further support that gestural deficits in ASD are present early in development, within the first two years of life.Certain gesture types may better distinguish children with ASD from TD/ND peers, and may be important targets for autism screening and early intervention.Predictors of gesture use can begin to elucidate models regarding the emergence of atypical gesture production in ASD.
Author: Julia Chen
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2965409319