Communication Breakdowns and Repairs of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with Fathers and Mothers

The ability to repair breakdowns in communication is a critical pragmatic language skill. To date however, studies of repairs have been conducted with mothers or examiners. Little is known about repairs children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use in interactions with fathers. Expanding our understanding of communication repairs used with fathers, and how these compare with mothers, may have clinical implications for improving social communication skills for children with ASD. This descriptive study investigated communication breakdowns and repairs of 16 children with ASD and fathers and mothers, during unscripted 15-min parent-child play sessions. Analysis of breakdowns and repairs was compared across parent gender. Findings provide early evidence of differences in breakdowns experienced and communication repairs used by children with ASD in interactions with their mothers and fathers. In parent-child free-play interactions, children with ASD had significantly fewer initiations, more breakdowns, and lower rates of repairs, with fathers than with mothers. Results suggest that including fathers in parent coaching aimed at increasing initiations, reducing breakdowns, and enhancing repair strategies may be a valuable component of parent-implemented social communication interventions for children with ASD.