Background and aims Parent-mediated interventions have been shown to be effective for improving communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorder when implemented by mothers. Little is known about the efficacy of autism spectrum disorder communication interventions implemented by fathers. This study investigated the effects of a 12-week coaching program on a father’s use of responsive strategies. Targeted responsive strategies included follow-in comments, follow-in directives, responsive physical play, and responsive object play. Collateral measures of changes to child communication skills and parental stress levels were also investigated. Methods A single subject, multiple baselines across behaviors experiment was conducted with one dyad (i.e. father and child with autism spectrum disorder). Results Results showed that the participating father was able to quickly learn to use three of the four targeted responsive strategies (i.e. follow-in comments, follow-in directives, responsive physical play). Child’s use of single words increased over baseline level and beginning use of multi-word utterances was documented. Pre–post intervention changes in ratings of stress for the participating father and mother were noted across child and parent domains. Conclusions and implications Findings of this pilot study may have important implications for developing much-needed parent coaching programs to enhance fathers’ use of responsive strategies and increase social communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorder.

中文翻译：

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儿童自闭症谱系的父亲交流指导：单项研究

背景和目的事实证明，由母亲实施的父母干预措施可有效改善自闭症谱系障碍儿童的沟通技巧。由父亲实施的自闭症谱系障碍交流干预措施的功效知之甚少。这项研究调查了为期12周的教练计划对父亲使用响应策略的影响。目标响应策略包括后续注释，后续指令，响应式物理播放和响应对象播放。还研究了改变儿童沟通技巧和父母压力水平的附带措施。方法对一个双胞胎（即患有自闭症谱系障碍的父亲和孩子）进行跨行为实验的单个受试者，多个基线。结果结果表明，参与活动的父亲能够快速学习使用四种针对性应对策略中的三种（即，后续注释，后续指令，响应性身体游戏）。儿童对单个单词的使用超过了基准水平，并记录了开始使用多个单词的话语。干预前后父母和孩子在父母的压力等级上的变化被注意到。结论和启示这项初步研究的结果可能对制定急需的父母指导计划有重要的意义，以增强父亲对自闭症谱系障碍儿童的反应策略的使用并提高其社交能力。后续指令，响应性身体动作）。儿童对单个单词的使用超过了基准水平，并记录了开始使用多个单词的话语。干预前后父母和孩子在父母的压力等级上的变化被注意到。结论和启示这项初步研究的结果可能对制定急需的父母指导计划有重要的意义，以增强父亲对自闭症谱系障碍儿童的反应策略的使用并提高其社交能力。后续指令，响应性身体动作）。儿童对单个单词的使用超过了基线水平，并且记录了开始使用多个单词的话语。干预前后父母和孩子在父母的压力等级上的变化被注意到。结论和启示这项初步研究的结果可能对制定急需的父母指导计划有重要的意义，以增强父亲对自闭症谱系障碍儿童的反应策略的使用并提高其社交能力。干预前后父母和孩子在父母的压力等级上的变化被注意到。结论和启示这项初步研究的结果可能对制定急需的父母指导计划有重要的意义，以增强父亲对自闭症谱系障碍儿童的反应策略的使用并提高其社交能力。干预前后父母和孩子在父母的压力等级上的变化被注意到。结论和启示这项初步研究的结果可能对制定急需的父母指导计划有重要的意义，以提高父亲对自闭症谱系障碍儿童的反应策略的使用并提高其社交能力。