The It Takes Two to Talk®—The Hanen Program® for Parents: Impacts on child behaviour and social-emotional functioning

Abstract

This study aimed to explore outcomes of a parent-implemented language intervention for children with language difficulties with respect to child behaviour and social-emotional functioning. A single group, quasi-experimental pre–post design was used. Participants were 121 parent–child dyads. The children with language difficulties were aged between 18 months and 4 years. Outcome measures were completed pre- and post-participation in the It Takes Two to Talk® (ITTT)—The Hanen Program® for Parents. Parents reported positive changes (p = < 0.01) across four of 10 child behaviours explored in the current study. This study also identified that approximately half of the children who participated (n = 56, 46.3%) were at risk for social-emotional difficulties pre-program and that there was a significant reduction (p = 0.004) in this number post-program. Given the positive outcomes with respect to overall social-emotional functioning in this community-based sample of more than 100 children, this study has highlighted the importance of measuring outcomes of parent-implemented speech-language pathology beyond child language and parent–child interactions. In addition, findings have highlighted a need for further research related to child behaviour outcomes in order to establish if language intervention focused on improving parent–child interactions is also effective in reducing specific disruptive behaviours. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)Communication Disability Centre, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia. Other Publishers: Maney Publishing; Plural Publishing Inc. Release Date: 20211220. Publication Type: Journal (0100), Peer Reviewed Journal (0110). Format Covered: Electronic. Document Type: Journal Article. Language: EnglishMajor Descriptor: Language Delay; Parent Child Relations; Parents; Treatment Outcomes. Minor Descriptor: Delayed Speech; Dyads; Early Intervention. Classification: Childrearing & Child Care (2956). Population: Human (10); Male (30); Female (40). Location: Australia. Age Group: Childhood (birth-12 yrs) (100); Infancy (2-23 mo) (140); Preschool Age (2-5 yrs) (160); Adulthood (18 yrs & older) (300). Tests & Measures: Parent–Child Interaction Tool; Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social Emotional; Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory. Methodology: Empirical Study; Quantitative Study. References Available: Y. Page Count: 9. Issue Publication Date: Sep, 2020. Publication History: Accepted Date: May 20, 2019; First Submitted Date: Dec 13, 2018. Copyright Statement: Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. 2019. <br />