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.

A systematic review of cultural adaptations in the global application of ABA‐based telehealth services

“…However, it is important to consider that the purpose of the studies was not to focus on adaptations, per se, and that cultural adaptations are perhaps less likely to be reported when the entire research team is matched in language and ethnicity with the participants. The common use of interpreters and service providers matched in language and ethnicity lends further support to the recommendation of Fong and Tanaka (2013) to increase training and collaboration opportunities in behavior analysis for individuals from diverse cultures.…”

“…Translated Materials. Seven studies (Alnemary et al, 2015;Dai et al, 2018;Guðmundsdóttir et al, 2017;Guðmundsdóttir et al, 2018;Lee, 2015;Neely et al, 2020;Tsami et al, 2019) reported using translated materials either during the baseline phase or the training phase of the study. These studies used different methods for the translation process.…”

“…Dai et al (2018) reported that their training videos were adapted to the Albanian culture by using illustrations that were native to the region to explain behavioral principles. Guðmundsdóttir et al (2017) and Guðmundsdóttir et al (2018) reported "modifying" the Sunny Starts tools but did not provide details about the modifications. No other studies reported adaptations to the content of their training.…”

Current Trends in Telehealth Applications to Deliver Social Communication Interventions for Young Children with or at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…The majority of studies (18 studies, 81.8%) from our sample were conducted at least partially in homes. Access to technology and the necessary infrastructure can impose limitations to the advantages of telehealth (e.g., reliable Internet connection); however, successful implementation of telehealth intervention has been demonstrated in rural locations with families with less-than-optimal Internet connectivity [ 20 •].…”

Higher education, behaviour analysis, and autism: time for coalescence

“…There have been some great examples of behaviour analysts doing just that. By engaging in telehealth, families with children with autism are supported (Espinosa, 2020;Ferguson et al, 2019;Gundmundsdottir et al, 2019) and by ensuring adherence to recommended hygiene behaviours, such as washing or sanitising hands, contamination can be controlled, or even prevented (Bördlein, 2020;Walsh, 2020). Behaviour analysts have addressed issues related to stress, isolation, and mental health as well as learning of new skills (O'Donnell, 2019).…”