Abstract：
UNASSIGNED: Gesture delay in autistic infants and toddlers has been widely reported. The developmental trajectory of gesture production during early childhood is understudied. Thus, little is known about the possible changes of gesture production over time. The present study aimed to document the development of gesture production in autistic children and examine whether child-based factors (chronological age and initial language skills) predicted gesture development.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 33 Chinese-speaking autistic children (Mage = 56.39 months, SD = 8.54 months) played with their parents at four time points over a 9-month period. Their speech was transcribed, and their gestures were coded from parent-child interaction. Multilevel modeling analysis was used to investigate the development of gesture and its associated factors.
UNASSIGNED: The total number of gestures produced by autistic children decreased over time. Among different factors, children\'s initial age significantly and negatively predicted children\'s gesture production, while initial language positively predicted children\'s gesture production.
UNASSIGNED: Gesture delay persists in preschool age. The decline in gesture production was associated with children\'s age and initial language ability. These findings shed light on the difficulties surrounding gesture use in autistic children.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 33 Chinese-speaking autistic children (Mage = 56.39 months, SD = 8.54 months) played with their parents at four time points over a 9-month period. Their speech was transcribed, and their gestures were coded from parent-child interaction. Multilevel modeling analysis was used to investigate the development of gesture and its associated factors.
UNASSIGNED: The total number of gestures produced by autistic children decreased over time. Among different factors, children\'s initial age significantly and negatively predicted children\'s gesture production, while initial language positively predicted children\'s gesture production.
UNASSIGNED: Gesture delay persists in preschool age. The decline in gesture production was associated with children\'s age and initial language ability. These findings shed light on the difficulties surrounding gesture use in autistic children.
摘要：
■自闭症婴儿和幼儿的手势延迟已被广泛报道。对儿童早期手势产生的发展轨迹研究不足。因此，随着时间的推移，人们对手势产生的可能变化知之甚少。本研究旨在记录自闭症儿童手势产生的发展，并检查基于儿童的因素（实际年龄和初始语言技能）是否可以预测手势的发展。
■总共33名会说中文的自闭症儿童（Mage=56.39个月，SD=8.54个月）在9个月的时间内在四个时间点与父母一起玩。他们的演讲被转录了,他们的手势是根据亲子互动编码的。采用多层次建模分析研究手势的发展及其相关因素。
■自闭症儿童产生的手势总数随着时间的推移而减少。在不同的因素中，儿童的初始年龄显著和负面地预测了儿童的手势产生，而初始语言对儿童手势的产生有积极的预测。
■手势延迟持续存在于学龄前。手势产生的下降与儿童的年龄和初始语言能力有关。这些发现揭示了自闭症儿童使用手势的困难。
■总共33名会说中文的自闭症儿童（Mage=56.39个月，SD=8.54个月）在9个月的时间内在四个时间点与父母一起玩。他们的演讲被转录了,他们的手势是根据亲子互动编码的。采用多层次建模分析研究手势的发展及其相关因素。
■自闭症儿童产生的手势总数随着时间的推移而减少。在不同的因素中，儿童的初始年龄显著和负面地预测了儿童的手势产生，而初始语言对儿童手势的产生有积极的预测。
■手势延迟持续存在于学龄前。手势产生的下降与儿童的年龄和初始语言能力有关。这些发现揭示了自闭症儿童使用手势的困难。
