As practitioners in speech-language pathology, our ultimate goal is to create meaningful and lasting communication improvements for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Recent research titled "Building Family Capacity: supporting multiple family members to implement aided Language modeling" offers invaluable insights into how we can achieve this by involving families more deeply in the intervention process.
The study explores the effectiveness of training multiple family members to implement Aided Language Modeling (ALM) strategies, which involve using both speech and a speech-generating device (SGD) during natural interactions. The results were promising, showing increased high-fidelity ALM strategy use among family members and a modest rise in the child's communication using the SGD.
Key Findings and Implications for Practitioners
- Family Involvement: The study found that involving various family members, not just parents, can significantly enhance the child's communication skills. This approach aligns with family-centered capacity-building practices, which emphasize active family participation and skill-building.
- Training and Coaching: The intervention involved a cascading model where the mother was trained first and then coached other family members. This model was effective and can be a scalable approach for practitioners.
- Social Validity: Family members found the goals, procedures, and outcomes of the intervention to be socially valid. They reported increased confidence in interacting with the child and noted improvements in the child's communication.
Actionable Steps for Practitioners
To implement these findings in your practice, consider the following steps:
- Identify Key Family Members: Assess which family members are most involved in the child's daily life and could benefit from training in ALM strategies.
- Provide Comprehensive Training: Use a combination of oral explanations, visual aids, and practical demonstrations to train family members. Ensure the training is tailored to each individual's needs.
- Implement a Cascading Model: Train one family member thoroughly and then have them coach other family members. This approach not only spreads the workload but also reinforces the skills learned.
- Use Telepractice Tools: Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, consider using telepractice tools for training and coaching sessions. This can make the intervention more accessible and convenient for families.
For more detailed insights and to read the original research paper, please follow this link: Building Family Capacity: supporting multiple family members to implement aided Language modeling.
