The Relationship between Imitation, Play, Gestures and Vocabulary in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have limitations in both nonverbal communication skills and language development. Limitations in language and communication skills are one of the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Many studies show that nonverbal communication skills are related to receptive and expressive language development. In this research, the relationship between imitating, play and gestures and receptive-expressive vocabulary in children with autism spectrum disorder was examined. The study group consisted of 36 children with ASD of which 7 were girls, and 29 were boys who were 3 to 6 years old. The results showed that there were relationships between gesture use, imitation, play and receptive-expressive vocabulary. However, receptive and expressive vocabulary was significantly predicted only by the gesture use. According to the results of this study, gesture use might be crucial in the development of vocabulary in children with ASD.