Early Lessons Learned in Designing an Adaptive Shared Reading Intervention for Preschoolers With Autism

2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-64
Author(s):  
Veronica P. Fleury ◽  
Jacqueline A. Towson
Keyword(s):  
Reading Intervention ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Implementation Fidelity ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Shared Reading ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Dialogic Reading ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Initial Intervention

Project START (Students and Teachers Actively Reading Together) is an adaptive shared reading intervention designed to address the varied learning needs of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This report summarizes procedures and results of the developmental year of the project, which focused primarily on evaluating implementation fidelity and social validity of the intervention. The final sample consisted of four classrooms with 10 students with ASD ( Mage = 4.32 years) and their teachers ( N = 4). Classrooms were randomized to either a 4- or an 8-week first-stage small-group dialogic reading condition. Children who were early responders continued with the initial intervention; those who were slower to respond were randomized to one of two intensified reading conditions. Results indicate that teachers perceived the intervention as feasible and child outcomes as acceptable. Implementation fidelity was low during initial weeks (33%–50%), improving to 67% to 83% by the last weeks of the study. Neither children’s engagement nor vocabulary growth differed between treatment levels or conditions. We discuss lessons learned from the study’s developmental year and changes that will be made in subsequent years to improve implementation and feasibility.

scholarly journals Dialogic Reading: Effects on Independent Verbal Responses, Verbal and Non-Verbal Initiations, and Engagement of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Rodrigues Queiroz ◽  
Victor Loyola Souza Guevara ◽  
Carlos Barbosa Alves de Souza ◽  
Eileen Pfeiffer Flores
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Shared Reading ◽  
Task Engagement ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Dialogic Reading ◽  
Verbal Responses ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Verbal Initiations

Dialogic reading (DR) is the shared reading of storybooks, interspersed with dialogues about story and illustrations. Previous findings have indicated that DR can be adapted for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can improve their engagement in shared reading activities. The present study aimed to investigate how DR with a verbal prompting hierarchy impacted the performance of children with ASD engaged in dialogue about the story. We also measured effects on verbal and non-verbal initiations and on task engagement. We used a single-subject design to test a DR adaptation involving a least-to-most prompting hierarchy with two 7-year-old children with ASD and evaluated the effects on independent verbal responses to questions about the story, verbal and non-verbal initiations, and task engagement. The participants showed an increase of independent verbal answers to WH (Who, What, Where, What) questions about the story, and to the more general “What is happening here?” (WIHH questions). One child showed an increase in verbal initiations. Both children showed high task engagement independently of condition, but with less variability when reading was dialogic. The results of this study support the use of story-based open questions and least-to-most prompting verbal hierarchies for helping children with ASD engage in conversation about the story in shared reading settings.What does this paper add? • The use of an explicit prompting hierarchy method is a step toward systematization of scaffolding strategies during shared reading.• It is possible to use verbal prompts to help children with autism spectrum disorder answer questions about the story during dialogic reading,

Coaching Parents of Children With Developmental Disabilities to Implement a Modified Dialogic Reading Intervention Using Low Technology via Telepractice

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Pierson ◽  
Julie L. Thompson ◽  
J. B. Ganz ◽  
Sanikan Wattanawongwan ◽  
April N. Haas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reading Intervention ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Functional Relation ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Dialogic Reading ◽  
Multiple Probe ◽  
Parent Implementation ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Storybook reading provides a naturalistic context to promote bonding and increase oral communication between the reader and child. This study investigated the impact of modified dialogic reading procedures, which included a prompting component on the language skills of children with autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome in the children's homes. Method A multiple-probe-across-participants design was used to investigate the efficacy of the intervention for this population. Parent training and coaching were provided via telepractice. Maintenance and generalization sessions were also conducted. Results A functional relation was observed between parent implementation and telepractice coaching. Conclusion While the child responses to comprehension questions did not change, changes in the parent implementation of modified dialogic reading procedures in response to coaching via telepractice were noted in this study. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13382831

Radical Subject Acceleration for Gifted Students: One School's Response

2019 ◽  
pp. 29-46
Author(s):  
Kaye Chalwell ◽  
Therese Cumming
Keyword(s):  
Gifted And Talented ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Gifted Student ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Mathematically Gifted ◽  
Support Students ◽  
Insight Into

Radical subject acceleration, or moving students through a subject area faster than is typical, including skipping grades, is a widely accepted approach to support students who are gifted and talented. This is done in order to match the student’s cognitive level and learning needs. This case study explored radical subject acceleration for gifted students by focusing on one school’s response to the learning needs of a ten year old mathematically gifted student. It provides insight into the challenges, accommodations and approach to radical subject acceleration in an Australian school. It explored the processes and decisions made to ensure that a gifted student’s learning needs were met and identified salient issues for radical subject acceleration. Lessons learned from this case study may be helpful for schools considering radical acceleration.

scholarly journals Neurodevelopmental Trajectories and Psychiatric Morbidity: Lessons Learned From the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ania M. Fiksinski ◽  
Maude Schneider ◽  
Janneke Zinkstok ◽  
Danielle Baribeau ◽  
Samuel J. R. A. Chawner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Phenotypic Expression ◽  
22Q11.2 Deletion Syndrome ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Deletion Syndrome ◽  
22Q11.2 Deletion ◽  
Variable Expression

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is associated with a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental phenotypes and is the strongest known single genetic risk factor for schizophrenia. Compared to other rare structural pathogenic genetic variants, 22q11DS is relatively common and one of the most extensively studied. This review provides a state-of-the-art overview of current insights regarding associated neurodevelopmental phenotypes and potential implications for 22q11DS and beyond.Recent FindingsWe will first discuss recent findings with respect to neurodevelopmental phenotypic expression associated with 22q11DS, including psychotic disorders, intellectual functioning, autism spectrum disorders, as well as their interactions. Second, we will address considerations that are important in interpreting these data and propose potential implications for both the clinical care for and the empirical study of individuals with 22q11DS. Third, we will highlight variable penetrance and pleiotropy with respect to neurodevelopmental phenotypes in 22q11DS. We will discuss how these phenomena are consistently observed in the context of virtually all rare pathogenic variants and that they pose substantial challenges from both a clinical and a research perspective.SummaryWe outline how 22q11DS could be viewed as a genetic model for studying neurodevelopmental phenotypes. In addition, we propose that 22q11DS research can help elucidate mechanisms underlying variable expression and pleiotropy of neurodevelopmental phenotypes, insights that are likely relevant for 22q11DS and beyond, including for individuals with other rare pathogenic genetic variants and for individuals with idiopathic neurodevelopmental conditions.

Revisiting an RCT study of a parent education program for Latinx parents in the United States: Are treatment effects maintained over time?

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110331
Author(s):  
Weiwen Zeng ◽  
Sandy Magaña ◽  
Kristina Lopez ◽  
Yue Xu ◽  
J Marisol Marroquín
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Parent Education ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Communication Impairments ◽  
Parent Education Program

This study examined maintenance of treatment effects in a culturally tailored parent education program for Latinx families of children with autism spectrum disorder using a behavior maintenance framework. In a two-site randomized waitlist-control study, we compared differences in parent and child outcomes across three timepoints using linear mixed models to determine whether outcomes observed at 4 months after baseline (Time 2) were maintained for an additional 4-month period (Time 3). Parent outcomes included family empowerment, self-reported confidence in, and frequency of using evidence-based strategies. Child outcomes included parent-reported challenging behaviors, social communication impairments, and the number of services received. Participants were 109 Latina mothers (intervention = 54, control = 55) of children with autism spectrum disorder. Results showed that at Time 3, mothers in the intervention groups reported significantly greater confidence in and frequency of using evidence-based strategies, and that their child received significantly more services. Site-specific treatment differences were found in outcomes such as parent-reported empowerment and child social communication impairments. Findings suggest that the intervention for Latinx parents of children with autism spectrum disorder was efficacious and could be maintained, and that site-specific policy and service differences may need to be examined in future research to inform dissemination and implementation. Lay abstract Background: We conducted a follow-up investigation of a two-site randomized controlled trial in the United States. We examined whether the treatment effects in a culturally tailored parent education program for Latinx families of children with autism spectrum disorder were maintained over time. Methods: Using linear mixed models, we compared differences in parent and child outcomes across three timepoints: baseline, 4 months after baseline (Time 2), and 8 months after baseline (T3). Parent outcomes included family empowerment, self-reported confidence in, and frequency of using evidence-based strategies. Child outcomes included parent-reported challenging behaviors, social communication impairments, and the number of services received. Participants were 109 Latina mothers (intervention = 54, control = 55) of children with autism spectrum disorder. Results: After intervention at both Time 2 and Time 3 in both sites, mothers in the intervention groups reported significantly greater confidence in and frequency of using evidence-based strategies, and that their child received significantly more services. We also found that there were treatment differences across the two study sites in several outcomes. Implications: The intervention for Latinx parents of children with autism spectrum disorder was efficacious and could be maintained, and that site-specific policy and service differences may need to be examined in future research to inform dissemination and implementation.

Preemptive interventions for infants and toddlers with a high likelihood for autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110504
Author(s):  
Lauren H Hampton ◽  
Elizabeth M Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Infants And Toddlers ◽  
High Likelihood ◽  
Parent Implementation ◽  
The Impact

Understanding the impact of preemptive interventions on development for those with a high likelihood for autism is a critical step in building a transdiagnostic model of optimized intervention. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the impact of preemptive autism interventions on parent outcomes and child developmental outcomes. A total of 345 unique records were assessed for eligibility yielding 13 unique studies with 715 total infant/toddlers with a high likelihood for autism. There was a significant association between the early interventions on parent implementation of intervention strategies immediately following the intervention. However, there was no significant association between the early interventions and child developmental outcomes. The studies reporting moderator and/or mediator analyses suggest a meaningful association between parent implementation and long-term child social communication outcomes. Taken together, these findings suggest that parent-mediated interventions are associated with improved parent use of strategies, and although these results do not translate into immediate or short-term child developmental outcomes, there is evidence that parents with the greatest implementation facilitate later improved communication outcomes for their children. There is an urgent need to develop a nuanced intervention approach during a time of ever-changing concern about child development. Lay abstract Interventions to address core symptoms for young children on the autism spectrum have a strong and growing evidence base. Adapting and delivering evidence-based interventions to infants and toddlers with a high likelihood for autism is a logical next step. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarize the association between infant and toddler interventions and developmental and family outcomes. Results indicate that these early interventions are effective for improving parent implementation of core strategies, yet the effects do not readily translate to child outcomes. However, key studies demonstrate conditional results that indicate that parent implementation is associated with child outcome. Implications for research and practice toward building adaptive interventions that respond to parent implementation and changing child characteristics are discussed.

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