As a speech-language pathologist dedicated to creating the best outcomes for children, it is crucial to stay informed about the latest research and its practical applications. One recent study, "The Efficacy of Using Telehealth to Coach Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on How to Use Naturalistic Teaching to Increase Mands, Tacts, and Intraverbals," provides valuable insights into the use of telehealth for parent training. This study offers a data-driven approach to improving social communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through naturalistic teaching strategies.
Key Findings
The study assessed the effectiveness of a telehealth-based training package designed to teach parents how to use naturalistic teaching strategies to enhance their children's communication skills. The training focused on three verbal operants: mands (requests), tacts (labels), and intraverbals (conversational responses). The results were promising:
- Parents showed significant improvements in their ability to implement naturalistic teaching strategies with high fidelity.
- Children exhibited notable gains in mands, tacts, and intraverbals during play sessions.
- Both parents and children demonstrated increased positive affect, indicating higher levels of engagement and enjoyment during interactions.
Implementing the Findings
Practitioners can leverage these findings to enhance their telehealth services and support for parents of children with ASD. Here are some actionable steps:
- Provide Comprehensive Training: Offer parents a thorough understanding of naturalistic teaching strategies. Utilize a combination of didactic instruction and live coaching to ensure they can implement these strategies effectively.
- Use Telehealth Platforms: Embrace telehealth as a viable option for parent training, especially in regions where in-person services are limited. Ensure that the technology used is user-friendly and accessible.
- Focus on Verbal Operants: Tailor training to address specific verbal operants, gradually introducing mands, tacts, and intraverbals. This structured approach helps parents build confidence and competence in teaching their children.
- Monitor and Support: Continuously monitor parent and child progress through regular video submissions and feedback sessions. This ongoing support is crucial for maintaining high fidelity and achieving desired outcomes.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides a solid foundation, further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of telehealth-based parent training and its applicability across diverse populations. Practitioners are encouraged to participate in or initiate research projects that expand on these findings. Areas for future investigation include:
- Assessing the sustainability of communication gains over time.
- Exploring the impact of telehealth training on other areas of child development, such as social skills and adaptive behavior.
- Investigating the effectiveness of telehealth training across different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
By staying engaged with current research and continuously refining our practices, we can ensure that we provide the highest quality of care for children with ASD and their families.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Efficacy of Using Telehealth to Coach Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on How to Use Naturalistic Teaching to Increase Mands, Tacts and Intraverbals.
