Investigation of the effect of more than words, the hanen program for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder on parental and child behaviors

In this research study, Hanen's More Than Words program has been given to a group of parents of children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Its primary effect on parents' emotional states, self-efficacy, interactional behaviors and perceived social support and its secondary effect on children's interactional behavior and language development were investigated. 14 parents and their children were enrolled in the study. Study was conducted in Language and Speech Therapy Unit in Hacettepe University Hospital. For the assessment of parents' 'State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Parent Stress Index, The Self Efficacy for Parenting Tasks Index- Toddler Scale, Maternal Behaviour Rating Scale-Turkish Version and lastly Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support' was used. To assess children's interactional behaviours 'Child Behaviour Rating Scale' and to assess the language development of children 'Turkish Version of Test of Early Language Development-Third Edition' and Turkish Version of Language Development Survey' was used. After the data collection phase was completed at different time intervals, differences of pre-test and post-test results in preintervention period and differences of pre-test and post-test results in post-intervention period were analysed. To assess the effect of intervention, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests was used. The results of this research study indicated that the rate of change in the levels of parents' self efficacy, state anxiety, parental stress and many parental interactional behaviors were statistically different in post-intervention period from the pre-intervention period (p < 0.05). Furthermore, due to the fact that the rate of change in the interactional behaviors and verbal language performances of children with ASD were statistically different between the pre and post-intervention periods (p < 0.05), it was seen that More Than Words program had a positive effect on children with ASD, as well as on their parents. Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, hanen's more than words, language development, parent implemented intervention