Studying the impact of intensity is important but complicated

Abstract

This commentary suggests that the most commonly studied aspect intensity (dose frequency) on overall rate of response to treatment may often be weak or conditional. To improve statistical power of tests of weak effects additive statistical models have typically been used. However, multiplicative models may be a more productive route to understanding dose frequency effects on children's speech and language development. To illustrate, recent findings are presented that dose frequency effects on vocabulary development varied by two child characteristics. Finally, it is suggested that spacing of teaching episodes within an intervention session be included as a variable in the multi-dimensional model of treatment intensity. Spacing teaching episodes may eventually prove to be one of the more powerful aspects of intensity.

Keywords::

• Intensity
• treatment
• speech/language pathology

Acknowledgements

This commentary is influenced by data and lessons learned from conducting a grant from the NIDCD, R01DC007660. Thanks go to our able project directors: Shelley Bredin-Oja, Elizabeth Gardner, Catherine Bush, and Nicole Thompson. The views of this commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of NIDCD.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.