Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of enhanced milieu teaching when combined with a voice output communication aid on the requesting skills of three children with autism. The research design was a multiple probe across participants. All sessions were conducted during 5-min play sessions in the child’s classroom. All three children learned to use the voice output communication aid to request items during play. Additionally, all three children increased their total requesting during play.
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Notes
A VOCA consists of a switch device linked to a pre-recorded message or synthesized speech output. Each time the switch is pressed; the message is activated and heard by listeners.
From here forward, all adult implementers will be called teachers even though two were actually assistant teachers.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported in part by a UT-Austin Undergraduate Research Fellowship to Christie Layton and a UT Austin Summer Research Award to Melissa Olive. However, the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of The University of Texas at Austin and no official endorsement by the University should be inferred. The authors would like to thank the Moore-Weis Children’s Center of Austin, the Round Rock Independent School District, and the participants and their parents for participation in this study.
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Olive, M.L., de la Cruz, B., Davis, T.N. et al. The Effects of Enhanced Milieu Teaching and a Voice Output Communication Aid on the Requesting of Three Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 37, 1505–1513 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0243-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0243-6