title: Predicting Intentional Communication in Preverbal Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: Intentional communication has previously been identified as a value-added predictor of expressive language in preverbal preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder. In the present study, we sought to identify value-added predictors of intentional communication. Of five theoretically-motivated putative predictors of intentional communication measured early in the study (at study entry and 4 months after), three had significant zero-order correlations with later intentional communication (12 months after study entry) and were thus added to a linear model that predicted later intentional communication scores controlling for initial intentional communication scores at study entry. After controlling for initial intentional communication, early motor imitation was the only predictor that accounted for a significant amount of variance in children's later intentional communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, STOP D5300, Austin, TX, 78712, USA. michealpaigesandbank@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Micheal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandbank
authors.affiliation: Hearing and Speech Sciences Department, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woynaroski
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Hearing and Speech Sciences Department, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keçeli Kaysili
authors.affiliation: Special Education Department, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yoder
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D007223:Infant; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Intentional communication; Longitudinal; Motor imitation; Predictors