The Use of Matrix Training to Teach Color-Shape Tacts Through Telehealth

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently experience language development challenges.
• Intensive language interventions are resource-intensive, necessitating efficient teaching methods.
• Maximizing instructional time is crucial for effective language acquisition in young children with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of telehealth-based matrix training for improving language skills in young children with ASD.
• To assess the generalization of learned language skills to untrained targets.
• To determine the feasibility of matrix training for teaching multicomponent tacting skills remotely.

Main Methods:

• A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across three participants was employed.
• Telehealth delivery of matrix training was utilized.
• Language targets were systematically arranged and selected for direct instruction, followed by generalization probes.

Main Results:

• Two of the three children required booster training sessions to achieve mastery.
• Preliminary data indicate positive outcomes in trained and untrained language targets.
• Telehealth-based matrix training showed promise for teaching multicomponent tacting skills.

Conclusions:

• Matrix training appears to be a viable and effective method for teaching language skills to young children with autism via telehealth.
• The findings support the use of matrix training to enhance generative language use in this population.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary results and explore broader applications.