A Telehealth Application of Joint Attention Symbolic Play Engagement and Regulation Enhanced Milieu Teaching with Caregivers of Newly-Diagnosed Toddlers with ASD: Using Formative Social Validity to Tailor Intervention
***No longer accepting participants***
This project is funded by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Nicholas Hobbs Discovery Grant Award
Click here to download the study flyer
This project has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (202422) with Dr. Ann Kaiser as Principal Investigator.
More info about this study:
Detailed description of the study
The purpose of this study is to use an iterative, adaptive single case research design with formative and summative social validity data to test and refine a telecommunication-based delivery of EMT to caregivers of newly-diagnosed toddlers with ASD. The EMT intervention has two evidence-based components developed during in-person delivery: (1) the communication intervention (EMT), and (2) strategies for teaching caregivers the intervention. Caregivers will be taught core EMT strategies for engagement, play, responsiveness, modeling, and communication expansions using the Teach-Model-Coach-Review approach delivered through Zoom. Formative social validity data collected throughout the study for each caregiver-child dyad. Two sequential single case multiple probe across participants designs (SCD; 3 dyads) will evaluate the acquisition and generalization of EMT strategies. Based on outcome data and the participants formative and summative feedback in the first SCD, iterative revisions will be made to the intervention. The revised intervention will be implemented in a second SCD with three new caregiver-child dyads to confirm the effects of the revised, socially validated intervention.
What is the problem we are addressing?
The study has four aims: 1) to examine the effects of an adaptive telehealth intervention on caregiver use of specific J-EMT strategies with their toddlers with ASD; 2) to examine the effects of caregiver-implemented J-EMT on children’s social engagement and communication; 3) to assess intervention social validity using a novel, formative framework in which caregivers can shape the dosage and implementation of telehealth support to fit their needs; and 4) to use summative data collected from three initial caregiver-child dyads to inform a second iteration of the virtually delivered intervention with three additional dyads. We will use an iterative, adaptive single case research design with formative and summative social validity data to test and refine a telecommunication-based delivery of J-EMT to caregivers of newly diagnosed toddlers with ASD.
What is the design of the study?
Two sequential multiple baseline across behaviors single case designs (SCD) will investigate the effects of telehealth coaching on caregiver use of J-EMT strategies and child communication. The first SCD will evaluate the acquisition and generalization of J-EMT strategies for three caregivers. Based on both outcome data and formative/summative feedback, iterative revisions will be made to the intervention. The revised intervention will be implemented in a second SCD with three new caregiver-child dyads.
Where is happening?
This research will take place virtually via Zoom.
Who is participating?
A total of six toddlers with ASD and their caregivers will participate in this study. All six families will be recruited through the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) and social media. Children aged 24-48 months of any gender, race, or ethnic background who have received a diagnosis of ASD, exhibit less than 10 spoken words on a caregiver report of expressive language and are not yet receiving intensive early intervention and their primary caregivers will be eligible.
What do we hope the outcomes will be?
The proposed project has the potential to enhance clinical telehealth practice by virtually expanding the role of caregiver education and coaching in ASD intervention. Our focus on creating an adaptive telehealth service delivery model for caregiver-mediated early intervention for children with ASD is crucial at this time, given the limitations to accessible and safe services that COVID-19 has placed on families.
KidTalk staff on this project:
Dr. Ann Kaiser, Principal Investigator
Jen Nietfeld
Suzanne Thompson
Kimberly McCulla
KidTalk doctoral students on this project:
Kathryn Bailey
Mary Rodgers
Links for potential participants