Optimizing Outcomes Through Sequencing Parent-Mediated Interventions for Young Children With Autism
Northwestern University
Summary
The overarching goal of the proposed study is to: (a) determine how best to sequence two parent-mediated interventions: a social communication intervention (Project ImPACT, Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) and a disruptive behavior intervention (Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior) and (b) examine moderators and mediators of intervention outcomes.
Description
Despite advances in early identification of and intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the long-term outcomes for children with ASD remain variable. As many as 40% of children with ASD are minimally verbal at 9 years of age, and 75% of adults with ASD have persistent social communication (SC) difficulties. Furthermore, as many as 70% of children with ASD have a co-occurring diagnosis of disruptive behavior (DB) disorder. Parents play an important role in SC development and in the prevention of and intervention for DB. As such, the overarching goal of the proposed study…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 1–4 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Child is between 18 and 48 months old * Child scores above the research cutoff for ASD on the TELE-ASD-PEDS * Child has no other known diagnosis or disability at study entry * Child has normal vision * Child is exposed to English at least 50% of the time * Child has a caregiver willing to learn the intervention strategies * Caregiver wants help supporting their child's social communication and behavior regulation * Caregiver understands conversational English well enough to participate in caregiver instruction
Interventions
- BehavioralSocial Communication
Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week
- BehavioralDisruptive Behavior
Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour once/week
- BehavioralSocial Communication + Reduce Frequency
Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour once/week
- BehavioralSocial Communication + Add Tools
Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week
- BehavioralDisruptive Behavior + Reduce Frequency
Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour every other week
- BehavioralDisruptive Behavior + Add Tools
Location
- Northwestern UniversityEvanston, Illinois