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A Review of Research Related to the POWR Intervention: a Communication Partner Intervention to Support Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

  • Communication Disorders (J Sigafoos, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Developmental Disorders Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of the Review

We review the evidence-based POWR intervention which provides training to communication partners to support children with complex communication needs (CCN) by teaching steps to support child communication: Prepare the activity and AAC, Offer opportunities for communication, Wait for the child’s communication, and Respond to child’s communication.

Recent Findings

POWR intervention studies show benefits for communication partners (increased communication opportunities, waiting, and responding) and the children with CCN (increased communication turns). Communication partners also found the POWR intervention to be socially valid.

Summary

The POWR intervention is effective and future research is being conducted to further refine it (e.g., adding coaching support, addition of AAC modeling), adjust for other languages and cultures, and explore its use and effectiveness with various communication partners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 556 W. Circle Dr. East, Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Sarah N. Douglas, Sarah Dunkel-Jackson, Tiantian Sun & Prince Owusu

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  1. Sarah N. Douglas
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  2. Sarah Dunkel-Jackson
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  3. Tiantian Sun
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  4. Prince Owusu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah N. Douglas.

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Institutional board review and informed consent were obtained for all studies reported in this review.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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This article is part Topical Collection on Communication Disorders

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Douglas, S.N., Dunkel-Jackson, S., Sun, T. et al. A Review of Research Related to the POWR Intervention: a Communication Partner Intervention to Support Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Curr Dev Disord Rep 9, 45–52 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-022-00244-6

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