Imitation enhances social behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder: A review.

Abstract

This article is a brief review of the literature on the enhancing effects of adult imitating the social behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The studies reviewed show that children with ASD respond more to imitative than to contingently responsive adults. After repeated imitation sessions, the children showed more distal social behaviors (looking, vocalizing), proximal social behaviors (moving close to and touching adult) and more joint attention behaviors as well as less repetitive/stereotypic behaviors during the imitation condition. To determine if any other behaviors of adults encouraged approach behavior by these children, the adults’ behaviors were coded. The children approached both more imitative and more playful adults. Interactions between children with autism and their parents suggested that when compared with the imitative adult the parents of children with ASD showed less imitative behavior. The children, in turn, were more imitative with the imitative adult. In another study, parents of children with ASD spent more time demonstrating and directing the children’s play and were less imitative. In at least 1 study, however, the children with autism showed more distal and proximal social behaviors with their mothers when their mothers were asked to imitate all the children’s behaviors. The literature suggests, then, that children with ASD showed more social and imitative behavior when they were imitated, highlighting the importance of imitation as an effective therapy for these children.