Journal Article

DEVELOPMENT OF PRELINGUISTIC SKILLS IN A CHILD WITH ASD THROUGH ABA-VB. A CLINICAL CASE

Bedmar-Sanz, Carmen, González, Celia Nogales

2025

Overview

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges developing prelinguistic skills, delaying or preventing language acquisition. This study used an Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior (ABA-VB) approach to teach six pivotal prelinguistic skills to a 3-year-old with ASD. The six skills include the speaking skills of (1) pointing, (2, 3) generalized imitation with and without objects, and (4) producing vocalizations; and the listening skills of (5) joint attention and (6) following simple instructions. Each of these skills were developed in independent teaching programs that included a pretest, intervention with different prompt fading phases, independent posttest, and generalization and maintenance tests. Programs were implemented through discrete trial training (DTT) in 1.5-hour sessions, 4 days a week. After a six-month intervention, the child met the acquisition criteria for all six skills. The skills were generalized with other materials, people, and contexts, and were maintained over time. Results support the effectiveness of ABA-VB for teaching prelinguistic skills and developing pivotal behaviors that promote the learning of more complex verbal skills in children with autism.

• Publisher: University of Oradea, Faculty of Social and Humanistic Sciences
• Subject: African Languages / Applied behavior analysis / Attention / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Autistic children / Behavior / Behavior Modification / Child Development / Children / Communication / Communication Disorders / Communication Skills / Data collection / Eye contact / Generalization / Imitation / Individualized Programs / Interpersonal Competence / Interpersonal Relationship / Intervention / Joint attention / Language / Language acquisition / Language Maintenance / Language Skills / Listening comprehension / Listening Skills / Maintenance / Native language acquisition / Neurodevelopmental disorders / Nonverbal Communication / Positive reinforcement / Program implementation / Psychological Patterns / Psychology / Semantics / Skills / Social interaction / Speech Skills / Teaching / Teaching methods / Toys / Verbal behaviour / Vocalization