Background: The Down syndrome behavioral phenotype includes delays in making speech sounds, production of more non-speech sounds than speech sounds, and contrasting strengths in social development. Within a behavior analytic framework, we conceptualize characteristics of the Down syndrome behavioral phenotype as creating a context for impairments in speech sound development that suggest interventions caregivers can use to improve speech sounds.
Aim and method: We examined one intervention, the effects of mother's contingent vocal imitation, on rate of speech and non-speech sound production in infants with Down syndrome using an ABAB design.
Results: Mothers responded favorably to learning to imitate their infants' vocalizations and their contingent vocal imitation was associated with increases in infant speech sounds.
Conclusions: The increases in infant speech sound suggest the promise of this approach and future research examining variations in contingent vocal imitation and additional outcomes.
Keywords: Behavioral phenotype; Contingent vocal imitation; Down syndrome; Infants; Speech sounds.
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