Effect of Non-verbal Motor Imitation on Length of Utterance of Autistic Children

This research was aimed to investigate the relation between non-verbal imitation and length of utterance, and effect of non-verbal motor imitation exercises on length of utterance in autistic children. in the first phase of this comparative research, 22 autistic and 30 normally developed children participated. The sampling pattern was convenience. We examined and compared length of utterance, in two groups. In the second phase, which was an experimental - interventional study with a pretest-posttest and control group design, the autistic group assigned to two matched groups by balanced randomized method. Then non-verbal motor exercises intervention executed in experimental group for 60 days (one hour a day). Before and after intervention, length of utterance in the groups, were assessed by action pictures test. Data were analyzed by use of t- test, regression analysis, and covariance. Research findings showed statistically significant difference between autistic group and normal group in length of utterance (p<0.01). In autistic group, there was a positive correlation between length of utterance and non-verbal imitation ability (r=0/884). Furthermore findings showed significant difference in length of utterance between control and experimental group after intervention (p<0. 01). this finding reveals that non-verbal motor imitation did have a positive correlation with length of utterance and non-verbal imitation exercises increases syntactic ability in autistic children.