Effects of Brief Parent Coaching on the Communication Skills of Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Limited Verbal Ability

Abstract

The publicly funded early intervention program for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Nova Scotia, Canada, uses the pivotal response treatment (PRT) model. Parents are coached in use of PRT strategies during their children’s first week of treatment. We explored whether parents of older preschoolers with limited verbal ability learned to implement PRT strategies with fidelity after brief coaching and whether PRT strategy use was associated with gains in children’s communication skills. We coded precoaching and postcoaching parent–child play episodes of 39 children (4.4–5.5 years) with limited verbal skills for parents’ PRT fidelity and children’s correct responding to language opportunities and frequency of initiations. Parents’ use of PRT strategies significantly improved, as did children’s responsiveness to parent-provided language opportunities. This study provides evidence for the utility of brief parent coaching in PRT for older preschoolers with ASD whose verbal skills are limited.