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Answered by Tina Sidener, PhD, BCBA-D Assistant Professor of Psychology, Caldwell College The term “verbal behavior” can be a confusing one, perhaps because it is used to mean several different things, and the field lacks consensus on some of the applications of this term. Let’s start with one use of this term…Verbal Behavior, the book.…
I am a behavior analyst working with an 18-month-old recently diagnosed with autism. Do you have any suggestions on how to work with such a young client? Answered by Peggy Halliday, MEd, BCBA, Virginia Institute of Autism and Tristram Smith, PhD, University of Rochester Medical Center By now most of us have become familiar with…
My child seems to put everything into his mouth-paper, stones, leaves, plastic, toys… What can I do about this? Answered by James Mulick, PhD Ohio State University Pica refers to the apparent appetite for non-food items with no nutritional value. It presents a problem when the items are poisonous, pose the risk of infection, are…
I am a speech language pathologist in a school-based program that relies heavily on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). What is important to know about this approach and its implications for my role? In what ways can I support this school-based program? Answered by Barbara Esch, PhD, BCBA, CCC-SLP Esch Behavior Consultants, Inc., and Elizabeth G.…
How do you increase speech intelligibility (articulation skills) or the variability in the sounds produced by children with autism spectrum disorders? Answered by Tracie L. Lindblad, Reg. CASLPO (SLP), MS, MEd, BCBA Approximately 30-50% of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) remain minimally verbal throughout their lives, with little or no functional speech (National Institutes of…
I am the parent of a student with autism who has developed some challenging behavior at school and the team has suggested a more formal assessment. What is meant by “functional analysis?” When should this be done and who should do it? Answered by Robert LaRue, PhD, BCBA-D Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center and Rutgers Center…
I am a behavior analyst working with a 6-year-old child with a very limited food repertoire. Do you have any assessment and treatment recommendations that can guide my efforts to address this area? Answered by Jill K. Belchic-Schwartz, PhD Pediatric/Child Psychologist, Childhood Solutions, PC, Fort Washington, PA Food selectivity is a fairly common issue with…
How does a behavior consultant who is invested in the child’s best outcome encourage parents to actively participate in home-based intervention? Answered by Alice Walkup, MS, BCBA For many parents of children with autism, participation in a home-based behavioral intervention program may seem overwhelming. In addition to managing and advocating for the child’s various services,…
I am a parent of an adolescent with autism who is urine trained but continues to have bowel accidents. What treatment strategies can I use to begin bowel training with him? Answered by Frank Cicero, PhD, BCBA-D Director of Psychological Services Eden II Programs Lingering issues with bowel training are common in individuals with autism, even…
– Mark R. Hammond, MA, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist, Mark R. Hammond Associates, Inc., Portland, Maine As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), my first reaction to the idea of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a methodology with which to teach language to children with autism was discomfort. My impression was that ABA was rigidly used to teach…
Reviewed by Jennifer Hieminga, MEd, BCBA, New Haven Learning Centre for Children, Toronto CA As many of us who have worked with adults with autism know, it can be difficult to engage and encourage local businesses to provide supported employment or supported volunteerism opportunities for our adults. The Alpine Learning Group, with support from The…