Using video feedback strategies in parent-mediated early autism intervention

Video feedback (VF) is a widely used method of facilitating behavioral change across adult skill training and mental health interventions. We review the theory and procedural background of VF methods to promote change in parent-child dyadic communication as part of parent-mediated early intervention for autism. Overview of studies incorporating VF in autism treatment shows positive effects in all but one on the targeted parent behavior outcomes, supporting the efficacy of the method in comparison to non-VF methods. We include in-depth case studies of three VF-mediated interventions: a preschool intervention for children with autism (PACT), a prodromal intervention (iBASIS), and a cross-cultural adaptation in South Asian (PASS). Each works just with parents within a developmental model to impact on child dyadic interaction, aiming for more generalized long-term child social development and symptom severity outcomes. The studies show that VF appears to be effective in altering parent interactive behavior in desired ways across child developmental age and family socioeconomic background and culture. They also show that targeted parental change leads to positive child social interaction change, and, in PACT, to reduction of child symptom severity sustained into middle childhood, 6 years after therapy ends.