Comparison of Contingent Vocal Imitation With and Without Supplemental Reinforcement on Vocalizations of Children with ASD

Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Degree Granting Department

Child and Family Studies

Major Professor

Catia Cividini-Motta, Ph.D., BCBA

Committee Member

Meka N. McCammon, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Committee Member

Kwang-Sun Blair, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Keywords

Echoic skills, Echoic Behavior, CVI, Spontaneous Vocal Behavior

Abstract

Verbal communication often entails vocal verbal behavior. Research has shown that many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience delays in the onset of vocalizations, which can hinder the acquisition of more complex vocal verbal behavior. Findings of previous research have also shown that early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is effective at teaching various skills, including verbal behavior, to children with ASD. Moreover, several studies have shown that contingent imitation leads to increases in the frequency of vocalizations and echoic responding of children with ASD; however, no study to date has compared the effectiveness of contingent vocal imitation (CVI) with and without supplemental reinforcement and only one study has included children with ASD older than 36 months. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of contingent vocal imitation with and without supplemental reinforcement on the vocalizations of children with ASD. An adapted alternating treatments design was utilized. Sessions were conducted at an ABA clinic where the participants were receiving services or the participants home. Three children ages 37 months to 6 years old participated in this study. In this study, CVI and contingent vocal imitation with supplemental reinforcement (CVI+) were successful at increasing echoic responding and spontaneous vocalizations for all three participants; however, CVI + led to a greater increase of echoic responses spontaneous target vocalizations for each participant

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