The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder
Purpose: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) frequently face pragmatic impairments which may result in learning, socialization, and mental health difficulties, therefore early intervention is crucial. In Portugal, the Pragmatic Intervention Programm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/12/1640 |
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| author | Tatiana Pereira Ana Margarida Ramalho Ana Rita S. Valente Pedro Sá Couto Marisa Lousada |
| author_facet | Tatiana Pereira Ana Margarida Ramalho Ana Rita S. Valente Pedro Sá Couto Marisa Lousada |
| author_sort | Tatiana Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) frequently face pragmatic impairments which may result in learning, socialization, and mental health difficulties, therefore early intervention is crucial. In Portugal, the Pragmatic Intervention Programme (PICP) has been recently developed and validated, but its effects are unknown. This study aims to determine the effects of the PICP on preschool-age children with ASD or DLD with pragmatic impairments. Methods: A non-randomized controlled trial has been conducted. The children (<i>n</i> = 20) were assigned to the intervention (<i>n</i> = 11) or the control group (waiting list) (<i>n</i> = 9). Each child attended 24 PICP-based intervention sessions provided by a Speech and Language Therapist in kindergarten. The primary outcome measure was a Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) rated by parents and kindergarten teachers. Secondary outcomes include parent/teacher-reported communication skills (Escala de Avaliação de Competências Comunicativas) and an assessment of the child’s general language ability (Teste de Linguagem—Avaliação da Linguagem Pré-Escolar). Results: GAS results show that all the children in the intervention group made progress. Statistically significant differences between pre- and post-intervention assessments were found for all secondary outcomes. Conclusions: The main findings suggest that the PICP improves language in preschool-age children with ASD and DLD with pragmatic difficulties. Further research is needed to analyse the effects of the PICP for each neurodevelopmental disorder individually. These results are crucial and will contribute to future research and evidence-based practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:16:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c0d472f93e54b81b982139e3b443866 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:16:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c0d472f93e54b81b982139e3b4438662023-11-24T13:39:11ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252022-11-011212164010.3390/brainsci12121640The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language DisorderTatiana Pereira0Ana Margarida Ramalho1Ana Rita S. Valente2Pedro Sá Couto3Marisa Lousada4CINTESIS.UA@RISE, University of Aveiro, 3810 Aveiro, PortugalCenter of Linguistics, University of Lisbon (CLUL), 1600 Lisbon, PortugalInstitute of Electronics and Informatics Engineering of Aveiro, Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, University of Aveiro, 3810 Aveiro, PortugalCenter for Research and Development in Mathematics and Applications (CIDMA), Department of Mathematics, University of Aveiro, 3810 Aveiro, PortugalCINTESIS.UA@RISE, University of Aveiro, 3810 Aveiro, PortugalPurpose: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) frequently face pragmatic impairments which may result in learning, socialization, and mental health difficulties, therefore early intervention is crucial. In Portugal, the Pragmatic Intervention Programme (PICP) has been recently developed and validated, but its effects are unknown. This study aims to determine the effects of the PICP on preschool-age children with ASD or DLD with pragmatic impairments. Methods: A non-randomized controlled trial has been conducted. The children (<i>n</i> = 20) were assigned to the intervention (<i>n</i> = 11) or the control group (waiting list) (<i>n</i> = 9). Each child attended 24 PICP-based intervention sessions provided by a Speech and Language Therapist in kindergarten. The primary outcome measure was a Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) rated by parents and kindergarten teachers. Secondary outcomes include parent/teacher-reported communication skills (Escala de Avaliação de Competências Comunicativas) and an assessment of the child’s general language ability (Teste de Linguagem—Avaliação da Linguagem Pré-Escolar). Results: GAS results show that all the children in the intervention group made progress. Statistically significant differences between pre- and post-intervention assessments were found for all secondary outcomes. Conclusions: The main findings suggest that the PICP improves language in preschool-age children with ASD and DLD with pragmatic difficulties. Further research is needed to analyse the effects of the PICP for each neurodevelopmental disorder individually. These results are crucial and will contribute to future research and evidence-based practice.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/12/1640neurodevelopmental disordersautism spectrum disorderdevelopmental language disorderpragmatic language interventionpreschool-age childrenpragmatic intervention programme |
| spellingShingle | Tatiana Pereira Ana Margarida Ramalho Ana Rita S. Valente Pedro Sá Couto Marisa Lousada The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder Brain Sciences neurodevelopmental disorders autism spectrum disorder developmental language disorder pragmatic language intervention preschool-age children pragmatic intervention programme |
| title | The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder |
| title_full | The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder |
| title_short | The Effects of the Pragmatic Intervention Programme in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder |
| title_sort | effects of the pragmatic intervention programme in children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental language disorder |
| topic | neurodevelopmental disorders autism spectrum disorder developmental language disorder pragmatic language intervention preschool-age children pragmatic intervention programme |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/12/1640 |
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