Social

What are basic principles of Floortime and RDI? What are each of the theories? What is the research which does/does not support them?

Floortime:

Floortime is a technique developed by Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder that focuses on following a child’s natural interests to help them master each of their developmental capacities.

There are 5 steps in Floor Time:

Step 1: Observation

Carefully observe and listen to the child.

Step 2: Approach-Open Circles of Communication

 Approach the child with developmentally appropriate words and gestures. You open the circle of communication when you approach the child.

Step 3: Follow the Child’s Lead

Let the child lead the activity. You can support and assist, but don’t tell the child what to do. Join in play with the child.

Step 4: Extend and Expand Play

Start to expand on the play. For example, pretend that the toy is talking. Start to expand on that interest, but remember that the child leads the activity.

Step 5: Child Closes the Circle of Communication

When you are able to get the child to say something in return by building on the play, a circle is closed.

Floor Time methodology also stresses semi-structured play to create situations where children are motivated to work on problem solving as well as motor, sensory, and spatial play.

Greenspan recommends that these experiences should occur at least once daily for at least 30 minutes. If time permits, engage the child in play for 20 minutes, take a 20 minute rest period, and play for another 20 minutes (ICAN Home, n.d.)

Floortime video that features Stanley Greenspan and demonstrated his approaches as he works with a mother and her son, who has ASD.

It appears that, overall, Greenspan's Floortime method needs further research to determine its effectiveness. Research studies have found that it is difficult to say that the Floortime method alone is effective (Solomon, et al, 2007, which did not have a control group for the study). Weider & Greenspan published an article in 2005, in which they followed up (after 10-15 years) with 16 of the children that previously were involved in their research on Floortime. It was found that all 16 persons progressed out of their core deficits.

 For more information on Floortime, please visit the following website:

 http://www.icdl.com/

RDI - Relationship Development Intervention:

A fairly new method (2001) developed by Dr. Stephen Gutstein based on the idea that children with autism missed many of the typical social developmental milestones as an infant and toddler. It seeks to correct the core social and emotional problems of autism. Parents are trained  to participate with their children in regulated activities. Some of the suggestions given to parents include:

*change your communication (i.e., asking fewer questions)
* slow down the pace of daily activities and create more opportunities for "productive uncertainty"
* spend time doing enjoyable Experience Sharing activities
* use photos, journals or memory books every day to reflect on a few happy moments

There are certified RDI consultants who help teach parents how to implement RDI appropriately.

Here is an article written by Dr. Gutstein further explaining the program if you are interested: http://www.phxautism.org/files/RDI_Autism_Quarterly.pdf

 

 Here is an example of the RDI approach for objective 5, which is to communicate using facial expressions and gestures.

For more information on the RDI program, visit: http://www.rdiconnect.com/

It appears that there also needs to be more research on RDI. The research is limited, and most of the research appears to be conducted by Gutstein himself. As stated earlier, it is a fairly new program. A preliminary study found some efficacy toward use of RDI, but there were many limitations to the study (Gutstein, n.d.). Zane (n.d.) found Gutstein's research to be flawed in many aspects and felt that the approach cannot be considered effective.

References for Floortime: 

ICAN Home (n.d.) Floortime Lecture. Retrieved from: http://www.autismnetwork.org/modules/comm/floor/index.html

Solomon, R., Necheles, J., Ferch, C. Bruckman, D., (2007). Pilot Study of a Parent Training Program for Young Children with Autism: The PLAY Project Home Consultation Program. Autism, 11(3), 205-224. Retrieved from: http://www.icdl.com/dirFloortime/research/documents/PLAYProjectArticleSolomon.pdf

Wieder, S. & Greenspan, S. (2005). Can Children with Autism Master the Core Deficits and Become Empathetic, Creative, and Reflective?: A Ten to Fifteen Year Follow-Up of a Subgroup of

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Who Received a Comprehensive Developmental,

Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) Approach. Retrieved From: http://www.icdl.com/dirFloortime/documents/WiederandGreenspan2005Followupstudy.pdf

References for RDI:

Gustein, S. (n.d.). Preliminary Evaluation of the Relationship Development Intervention Program.

Manuscript Accepted for Publication by The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Retrieved from:  http://faculty.caldwell.edu/kreeve/Gutstein%20unpublished%20RDI%20manuscript.pdf 

Zane, Thomas (n.d.). Relationship Development Intervetion: A Review of its Effectiveness. Association for Science in Autism Treatment. Retrieved from: http://www.asatonline.org/resources/research/evaluation.htm