RESUMO
Three children with autism and mental retardation were treated for deficits in self-initiated speech. A novel treatment package employing visual cue fading was compared with a graduated time-delay procedure previously shown to be effective for increasing self-initiated language. Both treatments included training multiple self-initiated verbalizations using multiple therapists and settings. Both treatments were effective, with no differences in measures of acquisition of target phrases, maintenance of behavioral gains, acquisition with additional therapists and settings, and social validity.
Assuntos
Transtorno Autístico/terapia , Terapia Comportamental/métodos , Comportamento Verbal , Transtorno Autístico/psicologia , Pré-Escolar , Ecolalia/psicologia , Ecolalia/terapia , Seguimentos , Generalização Psicológica , Humanos , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento da Linguagem/psicologia , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento da Linguagem/terapia , Masculino , Motivação , Comportamento SocialRESUMO
Most classification schemes differentiate elective mutism from language problems seen in the developmentally delayed population. Two preschool developmentally delayed children were treated for speech reluctance using modeling and contingency management. Employing a multiple baseline across therapists, it was found that these treatment components were effective in increasing frequency of labeling behavior in both children. Results were maintained at follow-up. Generalization to new words and to spontaneous speech were also noted, and suggest that characteristics of elective mutism in this population may be similar to what is found in the general population.
