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

Area of Science:

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Developmental Psychology
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in developing functional communication skills.
• Requesting is a crucial verbal behavior for independence and social interaction.
• Discrete Trial Instruction (DTI) and Mand Training are common behavioral interventions used in ASD research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of Mand Training versus Discrete Trial Instruction (DTI) in teaching independent requesting skills to children with autism.
• To assess the impact of these two teaching methods on eye contact and challenging behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A multiple-probe design across six participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
• Three participants initially received Mand Training followed by DTI, while the other three received DTI followed by Mand Training.
• Data collected on the acquisition of independent requests, eye contact, and challenging behaviors.

Main Results:

• Five out of six participants acquired independent requests more rapidly and made more requests using Mand Training.
• Participants exhibited fewer challenging behaviors during Mand Training compared to DTI.
• Slight improvements in eye contact were observed in the DTI condition.

Conclusions:

• Mand Training appears to be a more efficient and effective strategy for teaching requesting skills to children with autism.
• Behavioral interventions like Mand Training can positively impact communication and reduce challenging behaviors in children with ASD.
• Further research can explore combined approaches or individualized treatment plans for optimal outcomes.