Gesture use and Language meta data

Gestures are a foundational component of early communication and have been consistently linked to language development in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, existing studies report inconsistent effect sizes regarding this relationship, and the sources of such heterogeneity remain unclear. To address this issue, the present study employs a three-level meta-analysis to systematically examine the association between gesture use and language development in children with ASD and to identify potential moderators. Through a systematic literature search and selection process, eligible studies were included, comprising a sample of children with ASD. This study aims to elucidate the overall strength of the association between gesture use and language development and to further examine whether factors such as gesture type, child age, and language measurement tools moderate this relationship. The findings are expected to deepen the understanding of the role of gestures in language development among children with ASD and to provide a theoretical basis for related intervention practices.