Comparison of sensory integration and operant methods for production of vocalization in profoundly retarded adults

Sensory integration, operant and combined therapies were used with 27 profoundly retarded, marginally vocal clients. The sensory integration and combined methods yielded significant increases in rate of vocalizations. The operant techniques also increased rate of vocalizations but the gains were more variable than for the sensory integration procedure and they were positively and highly correlated with pretest rates of vocalization. It appears that sensory integration methods can be an effective method for elicting vocalizations when such behaviors are too infrequent for operant techniques.