Providing a parent-implemented language intervention to a young male with fragile X syndrome: Brief Report

Abstract

Purpose: Although fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability, there are no published intervention studies focused on improving communication and language outcomes for affected children. The current study utilized a collaborative coaching approach incorporating strategies from speech-language pathology and applied behavior analysis to examine the efficacy of a naturalistic parent-implemented language intervention for a young boy with FXS. Methods: The mother was taught the language and behavioral support strategies and submitted weekly video recordings of a caregiving routine. Written feedback was provided. Results: Results indicated moderate increases in maternal use of targeted language support strategies and variable performance in maternal use of behavior support strategies. Child use of appropriate requests increased while challenging behaviors decreased. Conclusions: This collaborative approach model should be used to guide future larger scale replications and develop new intervention models.

• Behavioral intervention
• collaboration
• early intervention
• fragile X syndrome
• parents
• speech and language intervention

Acknowledgements

We offer special thanks to the family who participated in this study.

Declaration of interest

Leonard Abbeduto received funding from F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. and Roche TCRC, Inc., and Neuren Pharmaceuticals for the development and implementation of outcome measures for FXS clinical trials. All other authors report no declarations of interest.

This research was supported by the National Fragile X Foundation, the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, and the University of Oregon College of Education.