Treatment Intensity Factors Related to Efficient and Effective Communication Intervention for Individuals with ASD and Complex Communication Needs

Abstract

Purpose: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mod.-severe intellectual delay (ID) and complex communication needs (CCNs) typically require highly intensive, costly, individualized educational interventions; thus, this project will lead to the development of protocols for instructional personnel and parents to guide them in selecting treatment intensity parameters and implementing efficient, acceptable, and effective treatment for improving communication the target population. We will conduct a meta-analysis to investigate differential effects of treatment intensity parameters (i.e., dosage, generalization, treatment integrity) and related mediators and moderators of communication acquisition in a range of vocal, unaided and aided manualized, and replicable intervention strategies. We will investigate the quality of the designs based on What Works Clearinghouse. Our meta-analysis will focus on (a) the degree to which dosage parameters (using Warren, Fey & Yoder, 2007) are utilized, (b) which parameters are most often reported, (c) interactions between learner characteristics and dosage parameters, and (d) distinctions in dosage parameters between social pragmatic communication intervention protocols compared to functional- behavioral protocols (e.g., descriptively examining dosage patterns within specific manualized programs) and other popular manualized programs. Project Activities: The research team will identify articles focused on the implementation of communication interventions for individuals with ASD/ID and CCN. For articles that meet inclusion criteria, the research team will evaluate the quality of research designs, as a component of inclusion/exclusion decisions. The team will extract raw data and will extract/code potential moderator variables related to treatment intensity elements. The research team will conduct a meta-analysis to determine associations between treatment intensity parameters (i.e., dosage, maintenance and generalization strategies) and child outcomes and whether they differ by intensity of the parameters.