Tracking Intervention Effects With Eye Tracking

Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is an empirically validated behavioral treatment for individuals with ASD that has its foundation in principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis. It was designed to improve social communication skills by addressing core deficits in social motivation or pivotal responses. By working specifically with each child's natural motivations, PRT focuses on naturalistic, functional skills, as opposed to rote skills. In this study, participants randomized to the PRT group will receive 6 hours of direct PRT, across three sessions per week, provided by Dr. Ventola's clinical team. Parents will have an additional one-hour session per week focused on PRT parent training using a practice-with-feedback model. Specific intervention goals in our target population include: Speech to respond to inquiries, Speech to inquire, Speech to comment, Reciprocal conversation, Monitor nonverbal information, and Perspective taking.