Child'sTalk--for children with autism and pervasive developmental disorder.

A research assessment protocol and early intervention approach designed for use by multi-disciplinary professionals with children who have the severe social communication deficits of early autism and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) are described. The assessment analyses the specific pattern of social communication impairment in each child and defines the characteristics of the dyadic communication between parent and child. The intervention aims to identify facilitative strategies, using video feedback, which lead to close interpersonal interaction between the child and their parents. Parents can reflect on their own interaction and identify which strategies successfully engage their child. Child'sTalk aims to facilitate adaptations to the child's level of communication by sensitively and finely tuning the interaction and mutual sharing of intentions as a fundamental agent for the emergence of communication.