Imitation and language training in retarded children

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Psychology
Degree name
Master of Science
Publisher
University of Canterbury
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
1978
Authors
Williams, Timothy Hamish
Abstract

In the literature relating to correcting speech deficiencies there are divergent views held on the value of training the response of imitation before attempting to train verbal imitation.

Six young retarded children with limited verbal ability were exposed to either non-verbal imitation training or to a task involving similar exposure to the experimental conditions but not involving imitation. All subjects were then exposed to a verbal imitation procedure. The subjects who had previously been exposed to imitation did not progress more rapidly on the verbal imitation task as might have been predicted from some of the literature.

This suggests that there is no value in training non-verbal imitation before moving into basic speech training using imitation.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Imitation, Children with mental disabilities--Language
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
All Rights Reserved