The effects of an oral narrative intervention on the fictional narratives of children with autism spectrum disorder and language disorder

A multiple probe across participants design was used to examine the effects of intervention on reality-based fictional narratives. Four boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and language disorder, aged 9–10, participated in a 1:1 intervention targeting the narrative macrostructure elements of character, setting, problem, feelings, and fix. Intervention involved clinician modelling, participants saying the entire narrative, narrative stimulus pictures, and macrostructure icons. An intervention effect, maintenance, and generalization to fantasy-based fictional narratives were demonstrated for three participants. Social validity measures indicated that a naive observer-rated post-intervention narratives as better than pre-intervention narratives. This study adds to the limited research into narrative intervention with children with ASD and co-occurring language disorder. The highly structured and semi-scripted intervention could be adapted to be delivered by teachers in small groups in the classroom. Areas for future research include implementing the intervention with small groups and targeting more complex narrative macrostructure.