Multiple Effects of Joint Attention Intervention for Children With Autism

Abstract

Joint attention refers to an early developing set of behaviors that plays a critical role in both social and language development and is specifically impaired in children with autism. In a series of three studies, preschool teachers demonstrated the effectiveness of discrete trial instruction and pivotal response training strategies to teach joint attention to 5 children with autism (Study 1). Parents of 2 of the 5 children also taught joint attention at home and in the community (Study 2). Several additional dependent measures demonstrated collateral improvements in expressive language and social-communicative characteristics that were socially validated by parent raters (Study 3). Results are discussed with respect to the importance of addressing different forms of joint attention, the necessity to extend intervention to naturalistic contexts and joint attention partners, the pivotal nature of joint attention, and whether intervention adequately addresses both the form and social function of joint attention.

Joint Attention and Occupations for Children and Families Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

“…Furthermore, findings indicate that JA skills developed through targeted teaching interventions may be generalizable to novel adults, settings, and play routines (Jones et al, 2006;Kaale et al, 2012;Kasari et al, 2006;Rocha et al, 2007;Wong et al, 2007).…”

“…One study featured a non-randomized controlled trial design, with an equivalent sample size of 34 participants (Chiang et al, 2016). Five studies featured multiple baseline single-group design, with a fewer number of participants ranging from two to six per study (Franco et al, 2013;Jones et al, 2006;Martins & Harris, 2006;Rocha et al, 2007;Vismara & Lyons, 2007). (Franco et al, 2013;Gulsrud et al, 2007;Jones et al, 2006;Kim et al, 2008Kim et al, , 2009Lawton & Kasari, 2012a, 2012bMartins & Harris, 2006;Schertz et al, 2013;Vismara & Lyons, 2007;Wong, 2013); response to JA and overall JA behaviors (Kasari et al, 2010;Kim et al, 2008;Rocha et al, 2007;Schertz et al, 2013;Wong, 2013); and initiating JA skills (Franco et al, 2013;Ingersoll, 2012;Jones et al, 2006;Kaale et & Kasari, 2012b;Rocha et al, 2007;Schertz et al, 2013;Vismara & Lyons, 2007;Yoder & Stone, 2006 (Chiang et al, 2016;Jones et al, 2006;Kasari et al, 2010;Rocha et al, 2007;Vismara & Lyons, 2007).…”

“…Of the studies that incorporated video recording for the purpose of analyzing observational data, nearly all of them used some combination of blinded, independent assessors to code data with documentation of acceptable levels of interobserver agreement, thus contributing to the strength of the experimental design (Chiang et al, 2016;Franco et al, 2013;Gulsrud et al, 2007;Jones et al, 2006;Kaale et al, 2012;Kasari et al, 2010;Kim et al, 2009;Lawton & Kasari, 2012b;Schertz et al, 2013;Vismara & Lyons, 2007;Wong, 2013;Yoder & Stone, 2006). All included studies incorporated measures to control for bias and contribute to the quality of the research in the current investigation.…”

“…In a study by Jones, Carr, and Feeley (2006), RJA strategies were differentiated from IJA strategies to promote social interaction.…”

“…JA intervention (JAI) is defined as the teaching of JA skills, and this approach to intervention has been researched extensively in the past decade (Chiang et al, 2016;Franco, Davis, & Davis, 2013;Gulsrud, Kasari, Freeman, & Paparella, 2007;Ingersoll, 2012;Jones, Carr, & Feeley, 2006;Kaale, Smith, & Sponheim, 2012;Kasari, Freeman, & Paparella, 2006;Kasari et al, 2010;Kim, Wigram, & Gold, 2008, 2009Lawton & Kasari, 2012a, 2012bMartins & Harris, 2006;Rocha, Schreibman, & Stahmer, 2007;Schertz, Odom, Baggett, & Sideris, 2013;Vismara & Lyons, 2007;Wong, 2013;Wong, Kasari, Freeman, & Paparella, 2007;Yoder & Stone, 2006). JA teaching strategies tend to incorporate principles from applied behavior analysis in the context of a table-top play routine or a naturalistic play setting (Kasari et al, 2010).…”