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Development Of Verbal Behavior In Early, Intensive Behavioral Therapy For Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mthya Jayakumar, Lesly Hendershot, Lori Warner, James F. Grogan

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INTRODUCTION
The current study will explore the relationships between motor imitation (MI) and verbal requesting skills in children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With nearly half of children with ASD evidencing minimal verbal skills, supporting language development is crucial in interventions. Early, intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is recommended to help children achieve better developmental outcomes. Functional language training often begins with the verbal requesting skill, MAND. Research suggests that a series of rapid motor imitations before a vocal model could facilitate vocal speech, but little is known about how MI can longitudinally influence functional language development. This …