Behavioral Intervention for Autism
What are behavioral interventions for autism and why are they important?
First let’s start with what does behavioral intervention mean overall. Behavioral intervention is the process of utilizing research-based solutions that employ a proactive, consistent, structured, and positive response from the student.
What about behavioral interventions for autism and using those behavioral interventions in the treatment of autism? Intensive and sustained programs and behavior therapy early in life can help children with autism and ASD acquire self-care, social and job skills, and can often improve functioning and decrease symptom severity and maladaptive behaviors.
One behavioral intervention for autism is called ABA or Applied Behavior Analysis. ABA involves structured teaching, speech and language therapy, social skills therapy and occupational therapy. ABA treatment has demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing global functioning in preschool children, and is well-established for improving intellectual performance of young children.
Now what about the behavioral intervention treatment for autism method called Pivotal Response Treatment® or PRT®? Pivotal Response Treatment® is a behavioral intervention model based on the principles of ABA. PRT® was developed by Dr. Robert Koegel and Dr. Lynn Koegel at the University of California. PRT® focuses on critical or “pivotal” behaviors that affect a very wide range of other behaviors. The primary four pivotal behaviors that have been identified by Drs. Koegel are:
- Being response to multiple cues
- Motivation
- Self-management
- Self-initiation
The goal of PRT® as a behavioral intervention model for autism, is to produce positive changes in the pivotal behaviors, leading to improvement in communication skills, play skills, social behaviors and the child's ability to monitor his own behavior.
Motivational strategies are used throughout PRT® behavioral intervention as often as possible. These include the variation of tasks, revisiting mastered tasks to ensure the child retains acquired skills, rewarding attempts, and the use of direct and natural reinforcement. The child plays a crucial role in determining the activities and objects that will be used in the PRT® exchange. For example, a child's purposeful attempts at functional communication are rewarded with reinforcement related to their effort to communicate (for example, if a child attempts a request for a specific toy, the child receives that specific toy).
 | ||||
Helpful Information
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)® For Autism
GET STARTED AND GET THE HELP
YOU NEED
Order the NEW PRT®
training manuals today.
#1 (BEST SELLER): Pivotal Response Treatment®: Using Motivation as a Pivotal Response
____________
#2: Teaching the Pivotal Behavior of Initiations to Children with Autism
____________
#3: Using PRT to
Teach First Words
to Children with Autism
To learn more, just click on the links below:
