Table 8 Results of covariance analysis on the improvement of imitation and social communication subcomponents for the control and ESDM group (Controlling for Age)

Imitation

Object Imitation

1.29 ± 1.12

2.29 ± 1.49

4.728

0.035*

Gesture Imitation

3.04 ± 1.97

6.29 ± 3.09

7.343

0.009**

Oral-facial Imitation

0.50 ± 0.59

1.25 ± 0.89

6.039

0.018*

Vocal Imitation

2.46 ± 2.08

4.25 ± 2.63

2.958

0.092

Social Communication

Receptive Communication

28.96 ± 15.18

33.11 ± 13.90

0.357

0.553

Expressive Communication

33.04 ± 15.46

34.68 ± 17.98

0.066

0.799

Social Skills

28.33 ± 14.65

29.50 ± 12.67

0

0.991

Joint Attention

6.25 ± 4.47

5.82 ± 3.69

0.522

0.473