Improving Access to Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) Via Telehealth Parent Training

Inclusion Criteria: Participants will include children ages a) 2:0 to 5:11 years, b)
diagnosed with ASD (based on history, review of available medical records including
diagnostic testing, e.g., ADOS) or suspicion of ASD diagnosis and confirmed with Autism
Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R; completed by phone), c) with significant adaptive
communication deficits (i.e., either a Vineland-3 Communication subscale 2SD below average
for 2 and 3 year olds and 3 SD below for 4 and 5 year olds or a Vineland-3 Expressive
V-scale Score 2 SD below average for 2 and 3 year olds, or 3 SD below for 4 and 5 year old,
and at least moderate severity on the CGI-S language subscale), d) able to vocalize with
communicative intent during home video observation, e) stable treatment for at least 2
weeks prior to baseline (e.g., ABA, special education) with no more than 60 minutes per
week 1:1 speech therapy and no anticipated changes during study participation, and f) an
English-speaking parent able to consistently participate in study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria.

a) children who have a primary language other than English, b) parent or child diagnosed
with severe psychiatric disorder or unstable medical problem, c) child participating in >15
hours per week of 1:1 ABA treatment at home, d) unstable medical condition such as severe
seizures, e) Severe behavioral difficulties (e.g., self-injury or aggression that could
present a safety risk to the child or family members during implementation of the
intervention), f) previous adequate trial of pivotal response treatment, or g) living
within 200 miles of Stanford University.