title: Fathers' and Mothers' Verbal Responsiveness and the Language Skills of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this observational study, we examined the interactions of 16 young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents to investigate (a) differences in verbal responsiveness used by fathers and mothers in interactions with their children with ASD and (b) concurrent associations between the language skills of children with ASD and the verbal responsiveness of both fathers and mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parent verbal responsiveness was coded from video recordings of naturalistic parent-child play sessions using interval-based coding. Child language skills were measured by the Preschool Language Scale-Fourth Edition (Zimmerman, Steiner, & Pond, 2002).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both fathers and mothers, parent verbal responsiveness was positively associated with child language skills. Mothers' responsiveness was also significantly associated with child cognition. After controlling for child cognition, fathers' verbal responsiveness continued to be significantly related to child language skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although other studies have documented associations between mothers' responsiveness and child language, this is the 1st study to document a significant concurrent association between child language skills of children with ASD and the verbal responsiveness of fathers. Findings of this study warrant the inclusion of fathers in future research on language development and intervention to better understand the potential contributions fathers may make to language growth for children with ASD over time as well as to determine whether coaching fathers to use responsive verbal strategies can improve language outcomes for children with ASD.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flippin
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010332:Paternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D014705:Verbal Behavior
references.citation: Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2013 Feb;22(1):57-70
references.pmid: 22878512
references.citation: J Child Lang. 1990 Feb;17(1):115-30
references.pmid: 2312636
references.citation: Lancet. 2010 Jun 19;375(9732):2152-60
references.pmid: 20494434
references.citation: J Autism Dev Disord. 2002 Apr;32(2):77-89
references.pmid: 12058846
references.citation: J Autism Dev Disord. 2000 Jun;30(3):205-23
references.pmid: 11055457
references.citation: J Child Lang. 1988 Oct;15(3):481-92
references.pmid: 3198717
references.citation: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2004 Nov;45(8):1420-30
references.pmid: 15482502
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2006 Jul;42(4):627-42
references.pmid: 16802896
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2008 Nov;44(6):1691-704
references.pmid: 18999331
references.citation: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008 Jun;47(6):642-651
references.pmid: 18434924
references.citation: J Autism Dev Disord. 2009 May;39(5):693-705
references.pmid: 19082876
references.citation: Child Care Health Dev. 1995 May;21(3):161-81
references.pmid: 7621556
references.citation: Child Neuropsychol. 2006 Aug;12(4-5):269-77
references.pmid: 16911972
references.citation: Child Dev. 2004 Nov-Dec;75(6):1806-20
references.pmid: 15566381
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2004 Apr;32(2):203-13
references.pmid: 15164861
references.citation: Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2007;13(4):330-8
references.pmid: 17979201
references.citation: Child Dev. 2001 May-Jun;72(3):748-67
references.pmid: 11405580
references.citation: Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2001;66(3):i-viii, 1-114; discussion 115-26
references.pmid: 11677873
references.citation: Attach Hum Dev. 2013;15(4):407-23
references.pmid: 23544455
references.citation: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2010 Aug;53(4):1026-39
references.pmid: 20605942
references.citation: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2004 Jun;47(3):663-77
references.pmid: 15212576
references.citation: J Autism Dev Disord. 1983 Jun;13(2):167-80
references.pmid: 6863211
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2001 May;37(3):387-403
references.pmid: 11370914
references.citation: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2014 Feb;57(1):212-26
references.pmid: 24023370
references.citation: J Fam Psychol. 2013 Aug;27(4):589-99
references.pmid: 23978321
references.citation: J Autism Dev Disord. 2012 Apr;42(4):539-48
references.pmid: 21590433
references.citation: Nurs Res. 2005 Jan-Feb;54(1):22-32
references.pmid: 15695936
references.citation: Am J Occup Ther. 2003 Jul-Aug;57(4):463-7
references.pmid: 12911089
references.citation: J Child Lang. 1980 Jun;7(2):353-69
references.pmid: 7410499
references.citation: Child Dev. 2004 Nov-Dec;75(6):1657-76
references.pmid: 15566371