Abstract
Five male children (aged 3-5 yrs) diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Autism participated in the present study as part of their ongoing weekly in-home, one-to-one discrete-trial training therapy. For each child, trained therapists conducted daily sessions in a varying order of: (a) 3-choice identity matching-to-sample using 3-dimensional objects, then matching of objects to pictures of objects, then matching of pictures to pictures; (b) a picture exchange communication procedure (PECS); and (c) vocal imitation. All 5 children learned to match objects to objects, then objects to pictures, and then pictures to pictures. Shortly after meeting criterion on matching objects to pictures or pictures to pictures, 4 children learned to respond correctly on PECS. Surprisingly, those 4 Ss learned to imitate simple sounds within a few sessions after demonstrating mastery of the PECS. Results are discussed in terms of the need for more research to confirm this effect, and in relation to the Assessment of Basic Learning Abilities test. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
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