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Parent-child gesture use during problem solving in autistic spectrum disorder.
Kristen Medeiros1, Adam Winsler
1State University of New York at New Paltz, 600 Hawk Dr, JFT 306, New Paltz, NY, 12561, USA, medeirok@newpaltz.edu.
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) gesture less and show a positive association between gesture and vocabulary, unlike typically developing children. Gesture may be a key communication intervention point for these families.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Gesture plays a crucial role in communication development.
- Understanding gesture in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is vital for early intervention.
- Previous research has explored various aspects of communication in ASD, but gesture-parent-child dynamics require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between child language skills and gesture use in youth with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
- To compare gesture frequencies and categories between children with and without ASD.
- To explore the association between gesture and vocabulary in both groups.
Main Methods:
- Coded frequencies and rates of total gesture use and five gesture categories (deictic, conventional, beat, iconic, metaphoric).
- Utilized the collaborative Tower of Hanoi task for observation.
- Assessed child language skills using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD exhibited lower Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test scores.
- Children with ASD gestured less frequently and at lower rates compared to typically developing children.
- Gesture use was unrelated to vocabulary in typically developing children, but positively associated with vocabulary in children with ASD.
Conclusions:
- Gesture patterns and their relationship with language skills differ between children with and without ASD.
- Gesture represents a potential avenue for communication intervention for families of children with ASD.
- Further research into gesture-based interventions could enhance communication outcomes for children with ASD.

