Using the Three-Minute Speech Sample to Examine the Parent-Adolescent Relationship in Autistic Youth: A Qualitative Analysis.

Abstract

This qualitative study examines autistic adolescents' perception of the quality of their relationship with their parent using the Three Minute Speech Sample. Twenty autistic youth (13-17 years; 83% male) spoke, uninterrupted, for three minutes about their thoughts and feelings regarding their mothers. Audio-recorded speech samples were transcribed and coded for emergent themes. Adolescents highlighted emotional support and acceptance in the context of their relationship, support mothers provide for mental health, love and caring, efforts to build the relationship through shared activities, and areas of adolescent-parent conflict. The TMSS is a low cost, low burden method by which autistic adolescents can comfortably and effectively self-report the quality of their relationship with their parent/caregiver.