title: Promoting the peer-related social development of young children with mild developmental delays: effectiveness of a comprehensive intervention.
abstract: To address the unusual peer-related social competence difficulties characteristic of young children with mild developmental delays, we conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive, developmentally oriented, highly individualized intervention extending over a 2-year period. Outcome measures emphasized generalization of peer interactions in unfamiliar playgroups. Results revealed modest effects of the intervention, with children who had lower cognitive levels benefiting most. Intervention effects were best conceptualized as preventative, minimizing the negative features and atypical patterns of children's social play with peers. Our discussion of future work was focused on alternative implementation models to enhance intervention intensity, inclusion of specific subgroups of children, and direct measurement of children engaging in social tasks.
authors.affiliation: Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7920, USA. mjgural@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Guralnick
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neville
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003142:Communication; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome