The Behaviors of Parents of Children with Autism Predict the Subsequent Development of Their Children's Communication
Abstract
The present study focused on behaviors that caregivers of children with autism show during play interactions, particularly the extent to which the caregiver's behavior is synchronized with the child's focus of attention and ongoing activity. The study had two major findings. First, caregivers of children with autism synchronized their behaviors to their children's attention and activities as much as did caregivers of children with developmental delay and caregivers of typically developing children, matched on language capacities. Second, caregivers of children with autism who showed higher levels of synchronization during initial play interactions had children who developed superior joint attention and language over a period of 1, 10, and 16 years than did children of caregivers who showed lower levels of synchronization initially. These findings suggest a developmental link between parental sensitivity and the child's subsequent development of communication skills in children with autism. Implications for parent training interventions are discussed.
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The intervention significantly alters parent-child dyadic social communication, and these changes are associated with subsequent positive child outcomes in longitudinal studies.
“The intervention does however significantly alter parent-child dyadic social communication in ways that are associated with subsequent positive child outcomes in longitudinal studies of autism,29,30 and are likely to be also positive for parents themselves.”
From Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment in children with autism (PACT): a randomised controlled trial (2010) · cites this paper as [29]
Parental synchrony and child initiations are associated with positive benefits for later social and communication functioning in independent prospective studies.
“These represent the targeted proximal outcomes of the parent-training approach, and their presence has been associated with positive benefits for later social and communication functioning in independent prospective studies in children with autism.29,30”
From Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment in children with autism (PACT): a randomised controlled trial (2010) · cites this paper as [29]
Parental sensitivity and responsivity to children's cues predict language outcomes in ASD, as they do in typical development.
“Additionally, parental sensitivity and responsivity to children’s cues have been found to predict language outcomes in ASD, as they do in typical development.”
The relationship between parent fidelity and child development and autism symptoms was expected based on previous studies and formed the logic for the treatment model.
“This relationship between P-ESDM Fidelity scores (reflecting parent sensitivity and responsivity to children’s communications and interests and their ability to create effective learning experiences) and their children’s development and autism symptoms was expected, based on findings reported from previous studies; it formed the logic for the treatment model used in this study.6, 42”
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- Authors
- Siller, M., & Sigman, M.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Siller, Michael
- ORCID
- Siller, Michael
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2002-04
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 77-89
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W2107159232
- Cited by
- 644
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 36
- FWCI
- 5.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01ns025243-14, 5r01hd017662-12)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 25243)
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD17662, HD-DCD3570)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, parental sensitivity, joint attention, language development, communication development, play interaction, developmental delay, parent training, child development
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Language, Communication, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Nonverbal Communication, Parent-Child Relations, Play and Playthings, Videotape Recording
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