Dynamic Assessment of AAC Action Verb Symbols for Children with ASD

The purpose of this study was to determine whether children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make progress in learning to use action verb symbols on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) applications across different communicative functions (requesting, labeling) and instructional formats (embedded instruction, discrete trial teaching).

Four preschool-aged children completed graduated prompting dynamic assessment sessions in which they were provided with varying levels of support (e.g., models, gestures) across three instructional conditions: (a) requesting actions embedded in play, (b) labeling actions embedded in play, and (c) labeling actions presented via video during discrete trial teaching. An adapted multielement single-case design was used to compare participants' abilities to use symbols with different levels of support across the instructional conditions and a control.

Differences between instructional and control conditions were established for three participants. Three participants also reduced the levels of support they needed to use symbols in at least two instructional conditions. Although participants initially required lower levels of support (i.e., less restrictive prompts) in the requesting condition compared to labeling conditions, these differences only maintained for one participant. Across participants, differences between labeling conditions were minimal.

Although children with ASD can use verb symbols with low levels of support during DA, additional intervention may be needed to increase independent responding. Individual characteristics may influence success across communicative functions.