Recipient organisationNIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex
NIHR supportRecorded as supported by this research centre
PeriodFeb 2025 — Jan 2026
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
A video-based therapy proven to help struggling families may need a fundamental redesign for autistic children and their parents. The problem is that Video Interaction Guidance (VIG)—where practitioners film parent-child interactions and highlight moments of successful communication—was built on how neurotypical people connect. Autistic people communicate differently, and research shows that mismatches between neurotypes can disrupt early interactions, harming child development and mental health. No studies have yet tested whether VIG works for autistic children or how to adapt it. This project will identify exactly what practitioners need to change. Using video analysis to measure subtle behavioural coordination, the researcher will develop a neurodiversity-affirming version of VIG that respects autistic communication styles rather than forcing neurotypical norms. If successful, the adapted intervention could give thousands of families with autistic children access to an evidence-based tool that actually fits them. It would also shift how healthcare professionals think about “successful communication”—moving from a single standard to recognising multiple valid ways of connecting. For a field that currently has no tailored guidance, that would be a concrete, practical change.
View original technical description
Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) is a brief, strengths-based intervention to help families. It supports communication and relationships between parents/carers and their children. It uses video-recordings of their interaction to identify successful moments of verbal and non-verbal communication. Communication and relationship quality in parent/carer-child relationships can have an impact on child development and mental health outcomes. NICE recommends VIG intervention to support families and autistic children. However, there is currently no research indicating specific effectiveness or suitability for autism and my own research into synchrony suggests that adaptations may be needed. VIG has the Principles of Attuned Interaction and Guidance (PAIG) used by practitioners to guide the parent/carer in their interactions with their child and inform the selection of videoclips identified as ‘successful communication’. PAIG are based on communication and interaction between neurotypical people. However, neurodivergent people, including autistic people, are known to communicate and interact differently, which can make interactions between an autistic and non-autistic partner challenging, as shown in my previous research into synchrony differences in neurodivergence. Disrupted in early parent-child interactions can negatively affect children’s development and mental health. This project will address what adaptations need to be made to VIG to support clients when the parent/carer and child are of different neurotypes. In particular, I will investigate whether and how VIG practitioners can adapt their practice to support communication in parents/carers and autistic children. Using video analysis methods to detect granular measures of behavioural coordination, the project will identify how practitioners can improve their support for communication and interaction from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective.
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