None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Parents of children with autism from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds face additional challenges to parenting autistic children than their peers. While there is some evidence for the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of parent coaching interventions, existing studies have largely focused on Western families. In this study, we will determine whether a parent-mediated intervention—More Than Words©—is feasible, acceptable and brings benefits to carers, families, and children with autism alike, over the short term.
Interventions
Hanen's More Than Words© is a group-based intervention program to support caregivers of autistic children/children with social communication differences to develop their child’s social communication and play skills. Parents are provided with 8 weekly face-to-face group-based sessions (~2-3 hours; without their children) and 3 face-to-face individual sessions (~1 hour; with their children) delivered by a Hanen-certified Speech Pathologist. Individual sessions will occur in week 2, 4 and 7 followi
Hanen's More Than Words© is a group-based intervention program to support caregivers of autistic children/children with social communication differences to develop their child’s social communication and play skills. Parents are provided with 8 weekly face-to-face group-based sessions (~2-3 hours; without their children) and 3 face-to-face individual sessions (~1 hour; with their children) delivered by a Hanen-certified Speech Pathologist. Individual sessions will occur in week 2, 4 and 7 following the completion of the group-based sessions in those weeks. The overall duration of the intervention will be 8 weeks. Attendance will be collected at both group and individual sessions. Parents are exposed to the following content in the program: - Learning how their child communicates at the moment and the next steps in their child's communication. - Learning how their child learns best and how to take advantage of this. - Learning what motivates their children to communicate. - Learning how to turn everyday activities into communication opportunities. - Learning how to support their child's understanding of communication and language. - Learning how to develop their child's play skills. - Learning how to support their child's development of friendships with peers. The mode of training in the group sessions includes: presentations, observation of video clips, group discussions, role plays and generation of homework strategies to practice each week. The three individual sessions involve both parents and children. During individual sessions, parents and children will be videoed interacting for 10 minutes and the videos will be jointly watched with parents to identify parents' use of strategies taught in the group-based sessions. Parents will be provided with Hanen's More Than Words© textbook to support their group-based learning. All sessions with take place at La Trobe University.
Sponsors
La Trobe University
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children will be eligible for the study if they: 1. Have an Autism Spectrum Disorder: a. Evidenced via a community clinical ASD diagnosis and exceeding ASD threshold on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2nd Edition (ADOS; Lord, et al., 2013), Modules T, 1 or 2; or b. Exceeding ASD threshold on the ADOS and meeting Clinical Best Estimate diagnosis of ASD by the senior researcher; 2. Are aged < 6 years; Parents will be eligible for the study if: 1. Their children meet the criteria listed above AND 2. They are from a Chinese or South Asian background and completed their formal schooling (up to 18 years) in their home country.
Exclusion criteria
1. Parental intention not to remain in Melbourne for the trial period. 2. Parent prior completion of a More Than Words© program. 3. Parent unable to attend La Trobe University for More Than Words© sessions and research assessments.
Outcome results
None listed