IMPACT OF PARENT-IMPLEMENTED CONTINGENT IMITATION ON YOUNG CHILDREN AT-RISK FOR ASD

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by pervasive deficits in social orienting and social engagement. Research suggests that parent-implemented interventions using responsive interactive techniques may be effective to increase social engagement in very young children with ASD, although more work is needed to examine how best to support a responsive parental style in this exceptionally heterogeneous population. Emerging evidence indicates that contingent imitation (CI) may be uniquely effective to increase social engagement in children with ASD. This study used a multiple-baseline-across-participants single case design to examine how three caregivers learned to use CI at home with fidelity with their young children at risk for ASD, how use of CI was associated with changes in directive adult behaviors and to identify associated changes in child social engagement and eye gaze. Results demonstrate that caregivers quickly acquired the accurate use of this simple technique at home and sharply reduced their use of questions and directives during play sessions. Child social engagement levels and social eye gaze demonstrated positive changes across intervention and maintenance phases. Implications for research and early intervention practice are discussed