A Comprehensive Peer Network Intervention to Improve Social Communication of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Trial in Kindergarten and First Grade

• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2340-2
• Publication Date: 2014-12-15T10:19:42Z
• Authors: Debra Kamps; Kathy Thiemann-Bo...; Linda Heitzman-Po...; Ilene Schwartz; Nancy Rosenberg; Rose Mason; Suzanne Cox
• Keywords: Prosocial Behavior; Multiple baseline design

The purpose of this randomized control group study was to examine the effects of a peer network intervention that included peer mediation and direct instruction for Kindergarten and First-grade children with autism spectrum disorders. Trained school staff members provided direct instruction for 56 children in the intervention group, and 39 children participated in a comparison group. Results showed children in the intervention group displayed significantly more initiations to peers than did the comparison group during non-treatment social probes and generalization probes. Treatment session data showed significant growth for total communications over baseline levels. Children in treatment also showed more growth in language and adaptive communication. Finally, teachers' ratings of prosocial skills revealed significantly greater improvements for the intervention group.