Positive effects of interaction coaching on infants with developmental disabilities and their mothers.

Modification of maternal responsivity was attempted in a study of the effects of interaction coaching. Twenty-three mothers and their infants with developmental disabilities participated in an interaction coaching component that consisted of six sessions of providing feedback to mothers about incidence of overstimulation observed on videotapes. Suggestions were given for ways to interact in a more contingently responsive manner. Compared with a control group of 17 mother-infant pairs, the interaction coaching group mothers increased responsibility and decreased stimulation. The infants were less fussy and performed better on standardized developmental assessments.