Teaching Imitation to Young Children with

Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Discrete Trial

Training and Contingent Imitation
Bravo, Alice 1  
  ; Schwartz, Ilene 1 1 University of Washington, Seattle, USA (GRID:grid.34477.33)
(ISNI:0000000122986657)

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ABSTRACT (ENGLISH)
Imitation is a pivotal skill for children with and without disabilities, serving both learning and social interaction
functions for young children. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently experience delays in
acquiring this skillset, demonstrating challenges in the ability and/or propensity to imitate the actions of others.
Current intervention programs frequently use discrete trial teaching (DTT) or contingent imitation to support
imitation development in young children with ASD. This study combined contingent imitation with DTT to teach
imitation to individuals who had previously struggled with acquiring this skill. A multiple probe design across three
preschool children with ASD was conducted within participants’ early learning classrooms. Response to
intervention varied across participants, with participants with more advanced imitation skills at study onset
demonstrating greater outcomes. Combining contingent imitation with DTT may facilitate the propensity to imitate
for individuals who exhibit some appropriate object engagement and are inconsistently imitating others’ actions
with objects. However, further research using stronger research design is needed to improve the teaching of
imitation to young children with ASD who exhibit challenges with this skillset.

DETAILS

Subject: Teaching; Autistic children; Intervention; Preschool children; Classrooms; Social

interaction; Disabled children; Learning disabilities; Imitation

Identifier / keyword: Autism; Imitation; Early Intervention; Contingent Imitation; Discrete Trial Teaching

Publication title: Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities; New York

Volume: 34

Issue: 4

Pages: 655-672

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: Aug 2022

Publisher: Springer Nature B.V.

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 Place of publication: New York

Country of publication: Netherlands, New York

Publication subject: Education--Special Education And Rehabilitation, Handicapped

ISSN: 1056-263X

e-ISSN: 1573-3580

Source type: Scholarly Journal

Language of publication: English

Document type: Journal Article

Publication history :

Online publication date: 2021-10-06

Milestone dates: 2021-09-24 (Registration); 2021-09-23 (Accepted)

Publication history :

   First posting date: 06 Oct 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-021-09819-4

ProQuest document ID: 2690865900

Document URL: http://eproxy.lib.hku.hk/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/teaching-imitation-young-children-with-autism/docview/2690865900/se-
2?accountid=14548

Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC,
part of Springer Nature 2021.

Last updated: 2022-07-18

Database: Applied Social Sciences Index &Abstracts (ASSIA),Education Collection

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