What is Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)?
Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) is a social communication development program for autistic children and their parents.
PACT supports children’s development by using videos of a parent and their child playing together to help the parent learn to:
- recognise their child’s communication signals
- build ways of communicating and interacting with their child.
Who is PACT for?
PACT is for children with social communication differences or difficulties, including children who have been or are likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. It’s suitable for children aged 2-11 years.
What is PACT used for?
PACT is used to help parents better recognise, respond to and enhance their child’s communication and interaction skills.
Therapists help parents learn strategies for use in daily activities and play with their child. When parents use these strategies in their child’s natural environment, children have more opportunities to develop their skills.
Where does PACT come from?
PACT was developed in the early 2000s by a group of researchers and clinicians at the University of Manchester, UK. It’s based on research and clinical experience from the field of speech pathology.
What is the idea behind PACT?
PACT is based on several ideas:
- Autistic children learn to communicate and interact through daily interactions with their parents during family routines and play.
- Autistic children communicate in various ways, like gestures or pulling your hand towards an object they want.
- Parents might need extra help to recognise, interpret and respond to autistic children’s signals.
- Videos are a helpful way to identify individual children’s communication signals and therefore the communication strategies that will work for them.
Using these ideas, PACT builds on the relationship between parents and children to create and make the most of everyday opportunities for communication and interaction.
What does PACT involve?
In a PACT program, a child and their parent attend a 90-minute session every 2 weeks for 6 months. After the 12 core sessions, parents can attend optional monthly maintenance sessions.
Each PACT session is structured in a similar way:
- The therapist videos the child and parent playing together.
- The parent and therapist watch the video. They look at how the child interacts and communicates. They also highlight examples of successful interaction and communication between the parent and child – for example, when the child and parent understand each other.
- Together the parent and therapist develop strategies to help the child communicate and interact. They also set daily home practice goals for the parent.
In between sessions, parents do 30 minutes of daily home practice with their child during play or family routines.
PACT programs are tailored to a family’s individual needs and recognise each child’s individual needs and skills.
You can do PACT via telehealth, so you can use this therapy even if you don’t have a PACT therapist in your local area. You can talk to the PACT therapist about how the video element of the therapy will work for you and your child.
Does PACT help autistic children?
PACT is supported by high-quality research. This research shows that PACT:
- improves children’s social communication skills
- helps with difficulties associated with repetitive behaviour and restricted interests
- helps children keep improving over the long term – for example, 6 years after the end of therapy.
Children benefit most from PACT when they have the therapy early in childhood and when parents complete all 12 core sessions.
Which professionals offer PACT?
Only therapists who have completed specific training can offer PACT. PACT therapists come from many backgrounds, including occupational therapy, psychology, special education and speech pathology.
Where can you get professional advice about PACT?
If you’re interested in PACT, you could start by talking about it with your GP or one of the other professionals working with your child. You could also talk about it with your NDIA planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator, if you have one.
How are parents involved in PACT?
PACT is a ‘parent-mediated’ therapy. This means that it’s a therapy that helps children by working with their parents. PACT sessions aim to build parents’ skills, so they can help their children develop communication skills in everyday life.
This means that your involvement is essential if your child is doing PACT. You’ll:
- attend sessions with your child
- be videoed playing and communicating with your child
- look at the videos with the therapist to identify communication strategies that work for your child
- set goals for home practice
- practise techniques daily at home with your child.
How much does PACT cost?
PACT sessions can range from $290-$360 per session, depending on the therapist you use.
Some private health care funds might cover some of the consultation fee. If the provider has HICAPS, you can make a claim immediately.
You might be able to include the cost of PACT in your child’s NDIS plan. You can contact the NDIS to find out.
Therapies and supports for autistic children range from behavioural therapies and developmental approaches to medicines and alternative therapies. When you understand the main types of therapies and supports for autistic children, it’ll be easier to work out the approach that will best suit your child.