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A Feasibility Study of Headsprout Reading Program in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Reading Delay

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Abstract

Headsprout is a commercially available, computer-based reading intervention that has been shown to be effective with children without disabilities and with children with ASD. Although recent studies that conducted a randomized clinical trial have demonstrated efficacy, they did not report specifically on feasibility. The current RCT evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of Headsprout in a sample of 16 children with ASD and reading delays (age 7. 0 to 10. 9 years). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some participants received in-person Headsprout intervention and other participants received telehealth Headsprout intervention. Therefore, the current study will report feasibility outcomes of conducting a RCT for both modalities. Feasibility benchmarks included accrual, attrition, attendance, data collection, treatment fidelity, and caregiver satisfaction. Despite the global pandemic, all feasibility benchmarks in the current study were successfully met and caregiver satisfaction with the intervention was high. We found positive feasibility outcomes for both in-person and telehealth-delivered Headsprout instruction. The results of the current study in combination with previous studies lend support for future large-scale studies that can aide in accomplishing community dissemination.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Amy Drayton and Jeremy Albright for their support with statistical analysis and interpretation.

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Organization for Autism Research. All procedures were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional review committee.

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  1. Ashley S. Andersen

    Present address: Clinic 4 Kidz, Sausalito, California, USA

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  1. University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe Meyer Institute, 6902 Pine St, Omaha, NE, 68106, USA

    Bethany A. Hansen, Laura E. Phipps, Ashley S. Andersen, Makayla E. Schissel & M. Alice Shillingsburg

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Hansen, B.A., Phipps, L.E., Andersen, A.S. et al. A Feasibility Study of Headsprout Reading Program in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Reading Delay. J Behav Educ (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-023-09529-1

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