Extending Caregiver Training Via Telecommunication for Rural Icelandic Children With Autism

Abstract

This study describes the development and evaluation of a behavioral parent training protocol via telecommunication for three parents of preschool children with autism, with limited access to behavioral expertise. A single-subject, multiple baseline experimental design across child behaviors, replicated across parents, was used to evaluate the effects of the training protocol. Dependent measures were collected via telecommunication for most assessments and included parent and child responses during naturalistic play. During intervention, the parents were taught methods to increase their child’s sociocommunicative behavior. All targeted skills increased during intervention. The increase was maintained with two families and some generalization to other settings occurred. The results indicate that training via telecommunication is a viable approach for rural families with low speed Internet connection. Continued development and refinement of telehealth training methods is discussed in context of technological challenges and procedures that fit telecoaching for rural families.