Responsive Parenting as a Target for Telehealth Language Interventions in Fragile X Syndrome: Implications for Scalability and Best Practices

Abstract

This review highlights the ways in which telehealth procedures can be implemented to help bridge the research-to-practice gap in supporting developmental outcomes for youth with fragile X syndrome (FXS). We review how the literature to date has informed potential treatment targets in the areas of speech and language development with a focus on understanding and supporting the dyadic relationship between the child and their biological mother, who is also impacted biologically. Notably, parental responsivity is an area that is strongly related to child language outcomes, both early and into adolescence, and thus, it is an important treatment target for subsequent interventions. To date, several parent-implemented interventions have been done in FXS across a broad age range (2–17-year-olds) all showing support not only that parents are successful in learning responsive strategies but also that there are subsequent impacts to child language development. Moreover, these interventions were successfully implemented at a distance through telehealth procedures including video teleconferencing and shared recordings of parent–child interactions. This review also addresses potential moderators of treatment gains. Implications for scaling such interventions in the future as well as best practices for incorporating telehealth procedures into future research and intervention programs are also discussed.

Oral Narrative Intervention by Tele-Practice in a Case with Developmental Language Disorder

“…It has centred mainly on the adaptation of the technology itself, on the comparison of results among children who have experienced recent intervention via telepractice as opposed to face-to-face, and on the attitudes of clients who participate in telepractice [50]. These studies have shown positive results after intervention via telepractice in the case of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), motor speech disorders, X Fragile Syndrome, and children with hearing impairment [47][48][49]62]. However, none have concentrated on individuals with DLD.…”

“…As for the efficiency and satisfaction with the use of this type of practice, studies are scarce [44] and some are pilot studies [45,46]. Despite the scarcity of evidence, there are a few studies that show positive results in relation to this type of practice focused on both the patient and the caregivers [44,45,[47][48][49][50][51][52][53], and it appears to be a very promising method in the case of children with difficulties in speaking and language [53].…”