Date of Award

4-2016

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Richard W. Malott

Second Advisor

Dr. Carmen Jonaitis

Third Advisor

Dr. Stephanie Peterson

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Steven Ragotzy

Keywords

Autism, language, echoic, vocal verbal, Mand-model, free-operant

Abstract

Many children with autism fail to demonstrate vocal-verbal behavior, including echoic behavior, as early as their typically developing peers. Some also make very limited vocal sounds in general, remaining mostly mute aside from crying or engaging in stereotypy. Echoic behavior involves auditory discrimination and matching, and functions as a beneficial, if not necessary, prerequisite for many other vocal-verbal skills. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an echoic training procedure for primarily non-vocal children who did not demonstrate auditory discrimination in baseline. The intervention consisted initially of sessions in which any vocal sounds were reinforced. Then differential reinforcement and shaping were used to increase the variety of sounds made. This was followed by a simplified echoic protocol to establish auditory stimulus control. The echoic protocol first targeted only the highest rate sound from previous phases in isolation, and introduced other high rates sounds in subsequent sessions. Echoic skills were tested prior to and throughout the intervention. This procedure produced an echoic repertoire in two out of three children.

Comments

Fifth Advisor: Dr. Ron Van Houten

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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