This study tested the effects of 2 prelinguistic communication interventions on generalized use of communication for two major pragmatic functions: proto-imperatives and proto-declaratives. Outcomes were measured immediately following intervention, and 6 months later. Fifty-eight children with developmental disabilities in the prelinguistic communication period of development were assigned randomly to either a treatment or contrast intervention. In families with high responsivity to children's communication acts at the pre-treatment period, the prelinguistic milieu teaching (PMT) treatment facilitated post treatment increases in generalized use of self-initiated proto-imperatives and self-initiated proto-declaratives. In families with low responsivity to children's communication acts, the responsive small group (RSG) comparison intervention facilitated post treatment increases in generalized use of self-initiated proto-imperatives. Weaker evidence at the 6-month follow-up suggests some effects of RSG on self-initiated proto-declaratives.
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