Teaching responsive communication strategies to mothers of non-speaking autistic children

Objectives Minimally speaking autistic children communicate through augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), gestures, speech, and idiosyncratic behaviours. Supporting mothers to recognise and respond to this range of communication is critical for facilitating interaction and development. This study examined the effects of coaching mothers to use responsive communication strategies across modalities.Methods A non-concurrent multiple baseline design across three mother-child dyads was employed. An eight-week coaching programme was implemented in home contexts. Child and mother’s communication across modalities and mothers’ use of responsive strategies were measured during baseline, coaching, and follow-up phases.Results All three children demonstrated increased total communication during coaching and follow-up relative to baseline. All children increased their use of gestures, two increased speech or speech approximations, and two increased communication device use. All three mothers demonstrated improved implementation of responsive communication strategies.Conclusions Coaching mothers to recognise and respond to diverse communication behaviours, including AAC, gestures, and speech, was associated with positive changes in both maternal responsiveness and mother and child communication. These findings support relational, home-based approaches that strengthen adult responsiveness to children’s existing communication repertoires.