Assessing the value of token reinforcement for individuals with autism.

The use of token systems has been supported across a variety of populations, but little research has evaluated the reinforcing value of token systems for individuals with autism. We used progressive-ratio schedules to compare the reinforcing value of an established token system, primary reinforcement, and tokens unpaired with reinforcement. Token systems were variably reinforcing for 2 students with autism and more so than primary reinforcement for 1 student. Results support formal assessment of the effectiveness of token systems.

Stimulus-Stimulus Pairing of Vocalizations: A Systematic Replication.

The current study replicated an enhanced stimulus-stimulus pairing (SSP) procedure used by Esch et al. (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 42: 42-225, 2009) for increasing vocalizations in children with autism. The enhanced SSP procedure consisted of pairing target vocalizations with high-preference items, interspersed target and nontarget trials, an observing response, and the presentation of the vocalizations in "motherese" speech. Results showed substantial increases in target vocalizations above baseline levels and above nontarget vocalizations for two of three participants.

The home TEACCHing program for toddlers with autism.

The study evaluated the efficacy a parent training intervention for children with autism based on the TEACCH model. Twenty families were randomly assigned to the treatment or waitlist group. All families were compared at pre- and post-treatment on formal dependent measures. Direct measures of behavior were compared across six matched pairs using a multiple baseline probe design. The results of the multiple baseline design showed robust support for improvement in child and parent behavior. Due to the sample size and short time frame, results of a repeated measures analysis of variance did not reach significance.

Matching children on the autism spectrum to classrooms: a guide for parents and professionals.

Meeting the needs of a learner with an autism spectrum disorder requires specialized expertise. Assessing the extent to which a potential program or classroom meets a child's needs is a source of serious challenge for parents and professionals alike. Indeed, identifying, prioritizing and agreeing upon the child's needs are complex questions for which there are no clear and straightforward answers. The process of establishing a match between a student and a placement must explore several primary dimensions: child, setting, and instructor variables, treatment philosophy and strategies, assessment and evaluation, and family needs and involvement. Additionally, there is a great deal of complexity considering how to interpret, integrate and apply empirical research findings and prominent professional opinions to develop sound and practical solutions. Discussion and agreement about the importance of each of these factors and how they apply in a specific situation forms the foundation of an interactive dialogue between service providers and families to create a "best fit" between student and program.

An evaluation of the number of presentations of target sounds during stimulus-stimulus pairing trials.

We evaluated the differential effects of 2 variations of a stimulus-stimulus pairing procedure on the vocalizations of 2 children with autism. For both participants, presenting 1 sound per pairing trial resulted in a higher rate of vocalizations than 3 sounds per pairing trial.

Use of discontinuous methods of data collection in behavioral intervention: guidelines for practitioners.

Over the past three decades, researchers have examined the sensitivity and accuracy of discontinuous data-collection methods. Momentary-time sampling (MTS) and partial-interval recording (PIR) have received particular attention in regards to their ability to estimate the occurrence of behavior and their sensitivity to behavior change compared to continuous data collection. In this article, we summarize these findings and provide recommendations for designing a discontinuous measurement system with consideration of the dimensions of behavior to be measured and the expected direction of behavior change.

Correspondence between traditional models of functional analysis and a functional analysis of manding behavior.

Functional analysis procedures have been effectively used to determine the maintaining variables for challenging behavior and subsequently develop effective interventions. However, fear of evoking dangerous topographies of maladaptive behavior and concerns for reinforcing infrequent maladaptive behavior present challenges for people working in applied settings. The present investigation sought to evaluate the utility of an adjunctive functional analysis model that involved the reinforcement of mands rather than problem behavior and compared the results to traditional functional analyses. The results from the manding analysis yielded results similar to the traditional FA in 3 of 4 cases. These findings suggest that manding analyses may represent a useful assessment tool for difficult to assess problem behavior or for individuals in settings where consultative support is limited.

Comparison of visual sensitivity to human and object motion in autism spectrum disorder.

Successful social behavior requires the accurate detection of other people's movements. Consistent with this, typical observers demonstrate enhanced visual sensitivity to human movement relative to equally complex, nonhuman movement [e.g., Pinto & Shiffrar, 2009]. A psychophysical study investigated visual sensitivity to human motion relative to object motion in observers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants viewed point-light depictions of a moving person and, for comparison, a moving tractor and discriminated between coherent and scrambled versions of these stimuli in unmasked and masked displays. There were three groups of participants: young adults with ASD, typically developing young adults, and typically developing children. Across masking conditions, typical observers showed enhanced visual sensitivity to human movement while observers in the ASD group did not. Because the human body is an inherently social stimulus, this result is consistent with social brain theories [e.g., Pelphrey & Carter, 2008; Schultz, 2005] and suggests that the visual systems of individuals with ASD may not be tuned for the detection of socially relevant information such as the presence of another person. Reduced visual sensitivity to human movements could compromise important social behaviors including, for example, gesture comprehension.

Discrete Trial Instruction vs. Mand Training for Teaching Children With Autism to Make Requests.

The present study compared the effects of discrete trial instruction (DTI) and mand training on the acquisition of independent requests in 6 children with autism. Two multiple-probe designs across participants were conducted with 3 participants receiving mand training followed by DTI and the other 3 receiving DTI followed by mand training. Eye contact and challenging behaviors were also assessed across conditions. Results indicate that 5 of 6 participants made more independent requests and acquired requesting faster in the mand training condition, had slightly better eye contact in the DTI condition, and fewer challenging behaviors in the mand training condition. Overall, the results indicate that mand training is a more efficient method for teaching children with autism to make requests.

Brief report: Use of DQ for estimating cognitive ability in young children with autism.

The utility of Developmental Quotients (DQ) from the Psychoeducational Profile-Revised (PEP-R) to estimate cognitive ability in young children with autism was assessed. DQ scores were compared to scores from the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales-Fourth Edition (SB-FE) for 27 preschool students with autism. Overall and domain DQ's on the PEP-R were significantly correlated with SB-FE composite IQ and Verbal Reasoning scores. Additional analyses with rank scores from each instrument confirmed these results. Results indicate that DQ scores obtained by the PEP-R are reasonable estimates of cognitive ability in this sample as measured by the SB-FE. Some administration advantages suggest that the PEP-R may be a viable alternative to the SB-FE (for estimating cognitive skills) under some conditions.