title: A longitudinal study of pretend play in autism.
abstract: This study describes a longitudinal design (following subjects described in Rutherford & Rogers [2003, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder, 33, 289-302]) to test for predictors of pretend play competence in a group of children with autism. We tested the hypothesis that developmental change in pretend play performance can be predicted by earlier measures of either executive function, intersubjectivity, imitation, or general development. Participants at the time of follow-up testing were 28 children with autistic disorder (mean chronological age (CA) 57.6 months), 18 children with other developmental disorders (mean CA 59.0 months), and 27 typically developing children (mean CA 30.1 months). Children with autism were profoundly delayed given both competence (prompted) measures as well as performance (spontaneous) measures. Joint attention at time 1 strongly and uniquely predicted pretend play development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1. rutherm@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hepburn
authors.forename: Sally J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007223:Infant; D007360:Intelligence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011340:Problem Solving; D012016:Reference Values; D012951:Socialization