Behavioral Intervention Promotes Successful Use of an iPod-Based Communication Device by an Adolescent With Autism
2010; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 9; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1177/1534650110379633
ISSN1552-3802
AutoresDebora M. Kagohara, Larah van der Meer, Donna Achmadi, Vanessa A. Green, Mark F. O’Reilly, Austin Mulloy, Giulio E. Lancioni, Russell Lang, Jeff Sigafoos,
Tópico(s)Behavioral and Psychological Studies
ResumoIndividuals with autism and limited speech are candidates for speech-generating devices (SGDs), but some individuals might experience difficulty in operating these devices. We describe the case of Steven, a 17-year-old adolescent with autism who used an iPod-based SGD, but had difficulty activating the speech output feature of this device. His difficulties were initially interpreted as motor control problems, suggesting the need to abandon this technology, prescribe a different SGD, or adapt his existing device. An alternative conceptualization was that the existing intervention procedures had failed to shape more effective response topographies. Along these lines, a behavioral intervention, involving differential reinforcement and delayed prompting, proved effective in shaping response topographies that enabled Steven to be more successful in activating the speech output function of his iPod-based SGD. The results suggest that behavioral intervention may provide an alternative to the more costly and involved process of replacing or modifying the person’s SGD.
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