Abstract
The study assessed free play and response to modeled symbolic play with animate toys and realistic and substitute accessories in 10 autistic children and 10 Down's syndrome and 10 normal preschooler controls. Groups were matched on Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test mental age (PPVT MA) range and Mdn(2.5 years). Autistic children played less than controls, imitated less well, and, on structured baseline trials, showed lower level play. Symbolic fluency differentiated all groups in structured play. Symbolic fluency for free and structured play was positively correlated with PPVT MA in autistic children; level of play was most highly correlated with PPVT MA in normal children. Findings suggested impaired imitative capacity and symbolic functioning in autism.
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This report is based on a master's thesis completed by the first author under the supervision of the second author. We wish to thank Carol Couvrette, who served as the observer, and Janice Nelson, who served as a rater. We also wish to thank the school directors and teachers, and especially the children, of Douglas Hospital Children's Services, Happy Face Nursery School, Peter Hall (Connaught) School, John F. Kennedy Memorial School, and Gary Taylor Center.
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Riguet, C.B., Taylor, N.D., Benaroya, S. et al. Symbolic play in autistic, Down's, and normal children of equivalent mental age. J Autism Dev Disord 11, 439–448 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531618
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531618