title: The Social ABCs caregiver-mediated intervention for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: Feasibility, acceptability, and evidence of promise from a multisite study.
abstract: The Social ABCs is a parent-mediated intervention for toddlers with suspected or confirmed autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We undertook a multi-site pilot study to evaluate feasibility and acceptability, and to identify trends in child and parent behavior to inform future research using a larger sample and a rigorous research design. The program involved 12 weeks of parent coaching, followed by 12 weeks' implementation, and 3-month follow-up assessment for 20 parent-toddler dyads (age range: 12-32 months). Parents successfully learned the techniques and rated the intervention as highly acceptable. Paired samples t-tests revealed significant gains in children's functional communication (responsivity, initiations), and language gains (age-equivalents on standardized measures) commensurate with typical developmental rates. Significant increases in shared smiling and social orienting also emerged, but were attenuated at follow-up. Parents' fidelity was positively associated with child responsivity. Training parents as mediators is a feasible and highly acceptable approach that provides a potentially cost-effective opportunity for intensive intervention at a very young age at the first signs of ASD risk. Child and parent gains in several key variables demonstrate the promise of this intervention. Autism Res 2016, 9: 899-912. © 2015 The Authors Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Autism Research.
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Brian
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.|Autism Research Centre, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Isabel M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.|Autism Research Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lonnie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zwaigenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Integrated Services for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.|Autism Research Centre, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bryson
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002170:Canada; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; caregiver-mediated; communication; early intervention; high-risk; parent-mediated; pivotal response treatment; smiling; toddlers