The Core Elements of Applied Verbal Behaviour AVB. Dr. Chafica Mansour Gharbieh Education & ABA/VB Specialist

Transcription

1 The Core Elements of Applied Verbal Behaviour AVB Dr. Chafica Mansour Gharbieh Education & ABA/VB Specialist

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3 Teaching Language to children with ASD or Other Developmental Disabilities Applied Behaviour Analysis is the applied research field of the science of behaviour analysis, and it underpins a wide range of techniques used to treat autism and many other behaviours and diagnosis (Dillenburger & Keenan, 2009). Many experts believe that children with development delays are less likely than other children to learn from the everyday experience/environment (Lovaas, 1987).

4 Teaching Language to children with ASD or Other Developmental Disabilities The ABA approach attempts to fill this gap by providing teaching tools that focus on simplified instructional steps and consistent reinforcement. An ABA related approach for teaching language and communication using Skinner s analysis of Language is called Applied Verbal Behaviour or AVB short. The most complex task faced by professionals in teaching children with development delays is the development and the implementation of effective language intervention programme.

5 The Positive Pairing Technique Before starting any intervention or teaching approach, the positive pairing technique should be used in order to establish rapport between the child and the teacher, as it is critical to begin and to develop the therapeutic relationship very carefully. It is very important that the child enjoys being with the teacher and sees learning as a positive thing and has value to him/her. In behavioural terms, the teacher has to pair-herself with reinforcers.

6 Teaching Language Teaching language for many children with autism requires intensive training and language skills must be directly taught to them, and careful programming should be provided in order to ensure generalization and spontaneity of those language skills to be occurred in the natural setting. Two common approaches have been identified as Discrete Trial Training (DTT) & Natural Environment Training (NET).

7 NET NET involves focusing on the child s immediate interest and activities as a guide for language instruction. NET is conducted in the child s typical daily environment such as home, school, playground and community, rather than in a formal teaching arrangement.

8 DTT DTT is a single cycle of a behaviourally based instruction routine. A particular trial may be repeated several times in succession, several times a day over several days (or even longer) until the skill is mastered. There are three parts, to a DTT: A B C Antecedent Behaviour Consequence SD R SR Discriminative stimuli Response Reinforcing Stimuli

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10 ABC Stimuli: anything that a person can experience through their senses. Anything that can be seen, heard, smelled, felt or tasted. Neutral Stimuli: dad says to the child "touch the dog". Child hears it but this sentence is not associated with anything positive or negative. Discriminative stimuli: SD dad says "touch the dog" and hold the child hand guiding him to touch the dog. When the child touches the dog, dad says "that is right" and gives the child a hug and a kiss. The child enjoys this (reinforcer). So when dad ask the child to touch the dog he does it without any help in order to get an immediate reinforcement. S- Delta: if the child touch cat instead of dog when asked "touch the dog". The child will not be getting hugs or kisses or dad saying" that's right". Therefore the child will learn not to touch the cat when asked to touch the dog.

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12 Operant Technique Operant Technique: if the behaviour reinforced the frequency of that behaviour will increase where as if reinforcement is withheld the frequency of that behaviour will decrease. Relationship between behavioural and environmental events is referred to as contingency "ABC" of behaviour. the ABC method has 3 clear parts. It makes it easy to the child with autism to learn the skill we are trying to teach him/her.

13 Operant's Technique Behaviourists can manipulate the 3 components to either increase, decrease or change behaviour. Give SD= use always simple and clear voice when you give instructions. Response = could be an action, movements etc... SR = If a response is reinforced the frequency of that particular behaviour will increase. If a response is not reinforced the frequency of that particular behaviour will decrease.

14 DTT & NET AVB is based on the behavioural theory (similar to Lovaas model), However, AVB model recognised the needs and the strengths apparent in children with autism, and uses both reinforcement and stimulus control teaching techniques. The guiding principles of the approach are (Strain & Cordisco, 1994). Children with autism benefit when intervention is consistent across school, home and community. They make better gains when parent and teachers work together. All children benefit from integrated environment. From AVB perspective, a more complete language repertoire would be acquired from a combination of DTT and NET procedures (Sundberg & Partington, 1998).

15 What is Verbal Behaviour Language is a learned behaviour and under control of environmental variables. Verbal Behaviour is reinforced or mediated by another person s behaviour. Includes talking, writing, sign language, gestures, augmentative communication. Vocal behaviour versus verbal behaviour. Focus on the behaviour of the speaker Function over form.