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

Jeyabalan, Sharon (2012) Developing joint attention in children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study. Honours thesis, Murdoch University.

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.

Item Type:	Thesis (Honours)
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Psychology
Supervisor(s):	Leach, David
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/11872

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