Incorporating discriminative stimuli into functional communication training with augmentative and alternative communication devices: a tutorial

Abstract

Functional communication training (FCT) is a commonly used and effective treatment for problem behavior maintained by social reinforcement (e.g., an individual engages in self-injurious behavior to gain access to adult attention). FCT involves teaching an individual to emit an appropriate communication response to access the reinforcer maintaining problem behavior (e.g., pressing a “Play, please” symbol on a device to gain the communication partner’s attention) and withholding that reinforcer following problem behavior (e.g., the communication partner minimizes attention-following problem behavior and waits for a communication response). Techniques such as incorporating discriminative stimuli (e.g., differently colored cards) can make FCT more practical for caregivers by teaching individuals when reinforcement is and is not available for communication responses while simultaneously mitigating treatment relapse. Despite the effectiveness of FCT with discriminative stimuli, no studies have leveraged the capabilities of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices by embedding discriminative stimuli within AAC software (e.g., by coloring communication symbols or grids). Our tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of how practitioners can incorporate FCT with discriminative stimuli into practice and includes video models of how to design these treatments on two common AAC apps.

Keywords:

• Behavior analysis
• devices
• functional communication training
• multiple schedule
• problem behavior

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author Note

Daniel R. Mitteer, Kayla R. Randall, and Brian D. Greer, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. Leslie J. Van Winkle, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute.

Daniel R. Mitteer is now at the Severe Behavior Program, Children’s Specialized Hospital–Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES). Brian D. Greer is now at the Severe Behavior Program, CSH-RUCARES, and the Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Notes

1 The iPad and iPod Touch are products of Apple Computers Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA. www.apple.com

2 Snap + Core First is a product of Tobii Dynavox LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. www.tobiidynavox.com

3 Proloquo2Go is a product of AssistiveWare B. V., Laurierstraat, Amsterdam, NL. www.assistiveware.com

Additional information

Funding

This study was partially funded from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development by grants 5R01HD079113, 5R01HD083214, and 1R01HD093734.