Early Intervention Priorities Identified by Parents of Children with Autism

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Early Intervention Priorities Identified by
Parents of Children with Autism

• Deb Keen, Sylvia Rodger, Michelle Braithwaite,
  Anne Jobling
• University of Queensland

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Outline

• Modified version of the Canadian Occupational
  Performance Measure (M-COPM)
• Study with 22 families
• Research finding and implications

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Participants

• 22 children with autism or early signs of the
  disorder
• Screened using the M-CHAT
• Aged 2-4 years (mean age 3y3m)
• 5 females and 17 males
• Parents were participating in an early
  intervention program run by the University

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M-COPM

• COPM Law et al. (1990, 1998) and Pollock et al.
  (1999)
• Performance and satisfaction ratings
• Clinically significant change 2-3 points
• Modifications communication and behaviour

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Procedure

• Early intervention program workshop home
  visits
• M-COPM administered pre and post home visits
• Goals assigned to 1 of 5 domains
• Inter-rater reliability calculated
• Mean scores for performance and satisfaction
  ratings calculated

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M-COPM and Parent Goals
Domain Classification Examples of Goals
Communication To ask before going to the fridge To increase ability to make needs known To communicate need for toilet
Social Interaction To improve eye contact To share and take turns with sibling To improve tolerance of others engaging in play.
Behaviour To express frustration in appropriate ways To reduce the frequency of unusual behaviour To sit down for snack time at kindy To stay beside parents when walking in open spaces.
Play Play alongside Will calmly To engage in functional play with a doll To increase play skills with other children
Self-care To sit on toilet for 5 minutes. To establish a regular toilet routine
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Parent Goals
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Summary of Findings

• Goals reflect core impairments
• M-COPM clinically useful
• Pre-requisites for use of M-COPM

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Implications

• Increased practice of new learning across
  settings
• Generalisation of skills and behaviour
• Facilitate communication between parents and
  professionals
• Establish shared goals and realistic expectations

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Conclusions

• M-COPM useful tool
• Extend research to other families
• Training video package coming soon