Teaching Parents via Online Asynchronous Training to Use Speech-Generating Devices with Their Autistic Children: A Pilot Study.
Parents can master SGD strategies with their autistic kids using only short online videos and printed steps.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Fischbacher et al. (2024) tested if parents could learn to use speech-generating devices (SGDs) with their autistic kids through online videos alone. They sent families POWR training modules and written setup steps. No live coach ever joined. The team used a multiple-baseline design across families and watched parents and kids at home.
What they found
Every parent created more chances for their child to talk after watching the modules. Kids also used their SGDs more often during meals and play. The study showed positive gains without any real-time help.
How this fits with other research
Llanes et al. (2020) ran a similar fully online parent course for toddlers with autism. Their PRT course also boosted child communication, proving the idea works across different teaching styles. Hickey et al. (2024) used a 20-minute asynchronous video to help parents of babies copy infant sounds. Fischbacher extends that same brief-online format to older, minimally verbal autistic children using high-tech devices. Gauert et al. (2022) taught parents to run discrete trials through telehealth with live coaching. Fischbacher removes the live coach and still gets good parent fidelity, showing asynchronous training can work for complex ABA tools like SGDs.
Why it matters
You can add POWR modules to your parent-training library today. Send the links, check in weekly, and let families work at their own pace. No scheduling headaches, no travel, no extra staff. If a family waits months for SGD services, these videos give them a head start while they wait.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Background/Objectives: Telepractice interventions have been found to alleviate barriers families face when seeking communication interventions. This study is a multiple-baseline single-subject design that measures parent communication opportunities and parent responsiveness to determine if parent training through online modules created for parents of children with communication support needs can be effective for training parents of autistic children with communication support needs. Methods: This study replicates work by utilizing online training used as well as the same variables and definitions. This study expands the original study by providing the children with speech-generating devices (SGDs). SGDs are an assistive technology tool to increase language production and give access to language to minimally verbal autistic people. A central difference between this study and study is that the only training parents received was the online modules and written instructions to set up the SGD. Results: Overall, the POWR modules appear to positively impact the communication opportunities provided by the parent during play and activities, increase child communication, and improve parent proficiency in implementing the POWR strategy. Conclusions: There is a need for a larger single-case study or a randomized control trial to replicate these findings. Additional instruction may be needed for parents of children with autism around responsive interactions. This study adds to innovative ways of providing family-centered training and access to AAC for those with barriers to service.
Children, 2024 · doi:10.3390/children11101194