Abstract:
The primary purpose of this study was to compare both pre- and post- language and social communication outcomes between two different groups, receiving various dosages of ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communicative Partners) therapy. A secondary objective was to investigate the feasibility of parent adherence to the ImPACT strategies and levels of self-perceived parent competency in implementing the treatment. Parent-mediated therapy has been shown to be a successful form of facilitating social skills and language in children with ASD (Ingersoll, 2012). Specifically, Project ImPACT implemented as an “off the shelf” model has resulted in increased social-engagement and communication as well as decreased parental stress (Ingersoll and Wainer, 2015). Results demonstrated clinically significant gains in social-communication across both groups, particularly in children receiving a higher dose of treatment. Parents also demonstrated increased parental satisfaction. Overall, the study highlights (1) the feasibility of implementing an “off the shelf” approach of the manualized Project ImPACT intervention in a clinic setting, without prior formal training, (2) emphasizes the importance of implementing parent-mediated interventions for the purposes of increasing overall functional communication in children with an ASD.
