ABSTRACT

Imitation has an important place in the observational learning process. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience limitations in imitation ability. These limitations are associated with deficits in abilities associated with ASD including understanding intention. In this study, the imitation skills and intention understanding levels of children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children were compared. Relationships between imitation, intention understanding levels and symptom severity in children with ASD, and the predictive status of these variables on symptom severity were examined. Findings showed that children with ASD experienced limitations in spontaneous imitation and in different areas of understanding intention, compared to their TD peers. There were significant relationships between imitation, intention understanding levels and symptom severity; the level of spontaneous imitation and intention understanding predicted symptom severity.

摘要

模仿在观察学习过程中占有重要地位。患有自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 的儿童可能在模仿能力方面受到限制。这些限制与与 ASD 相关的能力缺陷有关，包括理解意图。本研究比较了自闭症儿童和正常发育（TD）儿童的模仿能力和意图理解水平。研究人员检查了 ASD 儿童模仿、意图理解水平和症状严重程度之间的关系，以及这些变量对症状严重程度的预测状态。研究结果表明，与 TD 同龄人相比，患有 ASD 的儿童在自发模仿和理解意图的不同领域都存在局限性。模仿之间存在显着关系，意图理解水平和症状严重程度；自发模仿和意图理解的水平可以预测症状的严重程度。