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Assessing and Improving Early Social Engagement in Infants

Lynn Koegel1, Anji Singh1, Robert Koegel1

  • 1University of California, Santa Barbara.

Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions
|October 15, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Early intervention can improve social engagement in infants with developmental concerns. A modified Pivotal Response Treatment showed positive results in infants, suggesting potential for conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Behavior
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Infants exhibiting social abnormalities may face later social and behavioral challenges.
  • Limited research exists on frequent repeated measures of infant social vulnerabilities.
  • Feasibility of early interventions for social engagement in infants under one year is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess social engagement in infants with concerns.
  • To examine the feasibility of an intervention to improve infant social behaviors.
  • To determine the effectiveness of a modified Pivotal Response Treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Multiple baseline research design.
  • Assessment of affect, social interest, eye contact, and response to name in three infants (4, 7, 9 months).
  • Implementation of a modified Pivotal Response Treatment.

Main Results:

  • Infants showed consistently low or erratic social behaviors during baseline.
  • The intervention led to immediate increases and stable social engagement.
  • Social engagement remained high at follow-up.

Conclusions:

  • Early assessment and intervention are crucial for infants with social engagement difficulties.
  • A modified Pivotal Response Treatment is feasible and effective for improving infant social behaviors.
  • Findings have implications for clinical populations, including infants with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Keywords:
autism spectrum disorderearly interventioninfantssocial intervention

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