Kimberly A. Murza

Effects of Communication Partner Instruction on the Communication of Individuals using AAC: A Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) partner instruction intervention literature to determine (a) the overall effects of partner interventions on the communication of individuals using AAC, and (b) any possible moderating variables relating to participant, intervention, or outcome characteristics. Seventeen single-case experimental design studies (53 participants) met the inclusion criteria and were advanced to the full coding and analysis phase of the investigation. Descriptive analyses and effect size estimations using the Improvement Rate Difference (IRD) metric were conducted. Overall, communication partner interventions were found to be highly effective across a range of participants using AAC, intervention approaches, and outcome measure characteristics, with more evidence available for participants less than 12 years of age, most of whom had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or intellectual/developmental disability. Aided AAC modeling, expectant delay, and open-ended question asking were the most frequently targeted communication partner interaction skills. Providing a descriptive overview, instructor modeling, guided practice, and role plays were the most frequently incorporated communication partner intervention activities within the included studies.

Joint attention interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND A core social-communication deficit in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is limited joint attention behaviours-important in the diagnosis of ASD and shown to be a powerful predictor of later language ability. Various interventions have been used to train joint attention skills in children with ASD. However, it is unclear which participant, intervention and interventionist factors yield more positive results. AIMS The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of joint attention interventions aimed at improving joint attention abilities in children with ASD. METHODS & PROCEDURES The researchers searched six databases for studies meeting the inclusion criteria at two levels: title/abstract and full-text stages. Two independent coders completed data extraction using a coding manual and form developed specifically for this research study. Meta-analysis procedures were used to determine the overall effects of several comparisons including treatment type, treatment administrator, intervention characteristics and follow-up. MAIN CONTRIBUTION Fifteen randomized experimental studies met inclusion criteria. All comparisons resulted in statistically significant effects, though overlapping confidence intervals suggest that none of the comparisons were statistically different from each other. Specifically, treatment administrator, dosage and design (control or comparison, etc.) characteristics of the studies do not appear to produce significantly different effects. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS The results of this meta-analysis provide strong support for explicit joint attention interventions for young children with ASD; however, it remains unclear which children with ASD respond to which type of intervention.

Data-Based Decision Making in Professional Learning for School Speech-Language Pathologists

PURPOSE School-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are often asked to adopt new policies or practices at the school, district, or state level. Professional learning (PL) opportunities usually accompany these changes but are often delivered in a one-size-fits-all workshop format. The authors challenge school-based SLPs and district leadership to consider PL in a new light, guided by data-based decision making to ultimately improve student outcomes. METHOD This article discusses the research supporting the assessment and delivery of high-quality PL for school professionals, including SLPs, and a specific model for measuring change: the concerns-based adoption model (CBAM; Hall & Hord, 2015). An example of how CBAM was used to examine the adoption process with school-based SLPs in a large school district is provided. CONCLUSION Based on the review of the literature, the current approach to PL experienced by most SLPs is problematic. High-quality PL should target improvement in student outcomes and should be focused, ongoing, supported, and evaluated.

Disciplinary Literacy: Virginia School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge and Confidence

The purpose of this survey was to examine Speech-Language Pathologists’ (SLPs) confidence in their ability to support student outcomes by addressing language-literacy needs, to align therapy to educational standards, and to align therapy to student content areas. A total of 237 school-based SLPs in Virginia completed a 19-item survey. Results indicated school-based SLPs were largely unfamiliar with the concept of disciplinary literacy and only 53% of the respondents indicated that they were “Very confident” or “Somewhat confident” in their ability to align their therapy to students’ content areas. Confidence level was found to be negatively correlated with SLPs’ experience level (rs = −.14–−.24, p < .05) and positively correlated with their rating of their education (rs = .28–.39, p < .01). These results suggest school-based SLPs could benefit from professional development in the area of disciplinary literacy as well as the broader area of adolescent language and literacy interventions.

The lack of high-quality studies available and the methodological limitations of this review indicate that effectiveness of reading comprehension interventions for students with autism spectrum disorder is inconclusive

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by El Zein, F., Solis, M., Vaughn, S., & McCulley, L. (2014). Reading comprehension interventions for students with autism spectrum disorders: A synthesis of research. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 1303–1322. Source of funding and disclosure of interest: The review was supported by Grant R324C120006 from the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. The authors did not report any conflicts of interests.