Logo image
Developing joint attention in children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study
Thesis   Open access

Developing joint attention in children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study

Sharon Jeyabalan
Honours, Murdoch University
2012
pdf
01Front.pdfDownloadView
Front Pages Open Access
pdf
02Whole.pdfDownloadView
Whole Thesis Open Access

Abstract

This pilot study examined the general question; To what extent can joint attention be developed and generalised by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder? Children’s joint attention level was assessed and a behavioural intervention program based on the research of Holth (2005, 2006, 2009), was used to target deficits in responding and initiating joint attention. Four children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged between 4 and 7 years were assessed prior to an intervention phase which targeted the joint attention behaviours of gaze following, monitoring, social referencing, verbal tacting and manding. Post assessments were conducted after the intervention. Intervention results showed that training of specific joint attention skills were successful. In particular, high level behaviours increased at post assessment whereas the low level behaviours decreased. The results show that behavioural intervention programs can successfully teach joint attention skills and those skills can be generalised and maintained after the intervention.

Details

Metrics

543 File views/ downloads
180 Record Views
Logo image