Feasibility of an app-based parent-mediated speech production intervention for minimally verbal autistic children: development and pilot testing of a new intervention

BACKGROUND: Training speech production skills may be a valid intervention target for minimally verbal autistic children. Intervention studies have explored various approaches albeit on a small scale and with limited experimental control or power. We therefore designed a novel app-based parent-mediated intervention based on insights from the video modelling and cued articulation literature and tested its acceptability and usage. METHODS: Consultation with the autism community refined the initial design and culminated in a pilot trial (n = 19) lasting 16 weeks. Participants were randomly allocated an intervention duration in an AB phase design and undertook weekly probes during baseline and intervention via the app. We evaluated the acceptability of the intervention via feedback questionnaires and examined the usability variables such as adherence to the testing and intervention schedule, time spent on the app and trials completed during the intervention phase. RESULTS: High acceptability scores indicated that families liked the overall goals and features of the app. Ten participants engaged meaningfully with the app, completing 82% of the test trials and uploading data in 61% of intervention weeks; however, of these, only three met the targeted 12.5 min of intervention per week. CONCLUSION: We discuss the possible reasons for variability in usage data and how barriers to participation could be surmounted in the future development of this intervention. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-020-00726-7.