Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Concurrent Social Communication Predictors of Expressive Language in Minimally Verbal Children and Adolescents with
Meredith Pecukonis1,2, Daniela Plesa Skwerer3,4, Brady Eggleston4
1Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. mpecukon@bu.edu.
Abstract:
Numerous studies have investigated the predictors of language in pre-verbal toddlers and verbally fluent children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study investigated the concurrent relations among expressive language and a set of empirically-selected social communication variables-joint attention, imitation, and play-in a unique sample of 37 minimally verbal (MV) children and adolescents with ASD. Results revealed that imitation and play were significantly correlated with expressive language, even when controlling for non-verbal IQ, but joint attention was not. Imitation was the only predictor variable to reach significance within the regression model. Findings demonstrate that predictors of expressive language vary for subpopulations of the autism spectrum, and have broader implications for intervention design for older, MV individuals with ASD.
More Related Videos
08:30Author Spotlight: Exploring Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms in Fruit Flies — Genetic Models and Behavioral Tests
Published on: September 6, 2024
10:11Portable Intermodal Preferential Looking IPL: Investigating Language Comprehension in Typically Developing Toddlers and Young Children with Autism
Published on: December 14, 2012
Related Concept Videos
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Channels of Non-Verbal Communication
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Communication