Maternal mediation strategies during interaction with toddlers- a comparison of dyads with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and dyads with typical development (TD)

• Published in: European psychiatry 2021-04, Vol.64 (S1), p.S635-S635
• Main Authors: Mimouni-Bloch, A., Oren, A., Dromi, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstract; Autism; Dyadic naturalistic interaction; E-Poster Viewing; early language; Mediation; Toddlers
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1687

IntroductionDuring interactions with toddlers, mothers use various mediation strategies to encourage mutual play. Such mediation skills play an important role in the development of toddlers’ communicative skills. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) introduces challenges to this interaction.ObjectivesTo study the use of maternal strategies during interaction with ASD and TD toddlers at early lexical levels.MethodsNine ASD and fifteen TD dyads participated. Toddlers were matched by lexical levels. The mean age in the ASD was 31.5 months and in TD - 17 months. Each dyad was video-recorded three times, during naturalistic interaction. Mothers’ verbal mediation strategies were divided into five main communicative categories.Results1. Exact repetition of toddler’s utterances was similarly used and increased in both groups across the three visits (f (2,44)=3.77, p< 0.05). 2. Significant differences were found between the two groups regarding strategies associated with control of the interaction eg mothers of toddlers with ASD (MASD) made more frequent attempts to redirect their child’s attention (F (1,22)= 74.56, p