autism exam 2 Flashcards
fad intervention
a “craze”; short-lived; widespread
autism treatment is largely considered a “fad magnet”
these interventions are not based on science and their effectiveness has not been researched
science, evidence-based treatment
-relies on experimental approach to show that an intervention works
-uses methods that can rule out alternative explanations: experimental design, not based on case studies, anecdotes, or correlation
-verifies findings by replication by other researchers
-objective data collection
-defined variables
-clearly explained treatments that connect what is known
-peer review
-self-correcting attitude
pseudoscience
-a method that seeks confirmation of an already accepted conclusion
-uses practices that are said to be based on scientific method and theory, but are often anecdotes, case studies, and research designs that do not rule out others
-described in a way that make them appear scientific: use jargon, endorsed by people with credentials
-purposeful misrepresentation of facts/evidence
scientific method
observation/question - research topic area - hypothesis - test with experiment - analyze data - report conclusions that either support or refute hypothesis
anti-science
-rejection of scientific method as a way of gaining knowledge
-failure to recognize the importance or existence of objective facts
self-correcting attitude
science has a self-correcting attitude, which means that it identifies where improvements can be made and corrections are made when needed
differences between pseudoscience, science-based, and anti-science with respect to autism interventions and a method of obtaining knowledge in general
-science/evidence-based treatments only make up 1% of treatments available, even though there are hundreds of treatments for autism that can be found online
-pseudoscience and fad therapies are not reliable for autism interventions
-science & evidence-based interventions are based on experiments that prove that interventions work & can rule out other possible explanations
why are pseudoscientific interventions a problem for autism
-pseudoscience interventions are problematic for autism treatment, because they are not helpful or accurate
-pseudoscience treatments claim to have high success rates, promise a quick fix, and have lots of other red flags
-such as: training is not needed, heavy use of jargon, often contradict science or common sense, need “faith” for intervention to work, critical of testing the intervention, ignore negative findings, hostile towards critics, and avoid peer review
reasons why parents might choose a non-evidence-based practice
parents choose fad therapies for multiple reasons, such as:
-lack of understanding about what science is
-lack of critical thinking skills
-pressure to act quickly & achieve the best results (science based interventions take years of work, involve parents and are costly)
how to identify science-based and pseudoscientific interventions
scientific:
-use evidence to inform belief, relies on entire body of evidence
-conservative claims that are tentative & change based on new evidence
-precise & measurable terminology conductive to understanding & replication
-knows, understands, & applies logic with body of evidence to defend position
-views critics as colleagues; seeks criticism & refutation
pseudoscience:
-forms beliefs first & selects evidence to confirm; disqualifies/rejects opposing evidence
-grandiose claims uncoupled from evidence; dogmatic & unchanging when provided new & conflicting evidence
-convoluted evidence w jargon to elude criticism; inhibit replication & defund outstanding findings
-relies on logical fallacy & selected evidence to advance a position
-views critics as enemies; avoids criticisms & condemns dissent; works alone
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augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
-communication tools for for those with limited or no vocal speech
-2 types of AAC systems: topography based and selection based
topography based systems
one of the two AAC systems
-unaided/does not include external materials
-different form of a response for different meanings
includes:
-gestures
-manual signing (ASL)
advantages:
-may be easier for someone with intellectual disability to learn
-hands are always there
disadvantages
-requires fine motor skills
-not universally understood
-each sign needs to be taught
selection based system
one of two types of AAC system
-aided/involve use of a device or communication aid
-series of meaningful symbols
-learner responds to the symbol to communicate
includes:
-speech generating devices
-iPad systems
-PECS
advantages:
-easy to update/maintain
-portable
-pictures are understood by most
-can be used to teach sentence structure
-once the response it taught, new pictures can be introduced without additional response teaching
disadvantages:
-less efficient with longer utterances
-binders become cumbersome as vocabulary grows
-pictures can get lost
picture exchange communication systems (PECS)
-picture exchange communication system
-a selection based AAC system
-individual with autism learns to give picture of desired object to communication partner, who immediately honors the exchange as a request
-goal is to teach functional communication
echoics
one of the 4 verbal behavior vocabulary words
-repeating what was heard
reciprocal interactions
exchange in which individuals or objects exhibit similar behavior, either at the same time or in a back-and-forth manner
-part of typical development occurring at 6-12 months
tact
one of the 4 verbal behavior vocabulary words
-object/stimulus identification
semantics
a part of language that is concerned with the meaning of words
-study of meaning of words, sentences, and phrases
-what a speaker conventionally means (objective or general meaning) - not what he is trying to say
mands
one of the 4 verbal behavior vocabulary words
-asking for what you want
nonverbal communication
-ability to read and understand other’s facial expressions and gestures
broca’s area
-plays a critical role in language
-controls the ability to speak words
wernicke’s area
-plays a critical role in language
-controls the ability to understand the meaning of words
pivotal response training (PRT)
-play-based behavioral treatment
-target pivotal areas of development instead of working on one specific behavior
-this means that treatment spans & improves areas like communication, behavior and learning
-major component of ABA treatment
expressive verbal language
the ability to express a person’s wants and needs through verbal communication
-sentences make sense and are grammatically correct
-the “output” of language
response to joint attention (RJA)
JA: coordination of attention between 2 people and an object; active shared experience
responding to JA: ability to follow the direction of the gaze and gestures of others in order to share a common point of reference
language
one component of communication
-system of abstract symbols
-rule-governed
intraverbals
one of the 4 verbal behavior vocabulary words
-responding to someone else’s words
verbal behavior
-book by BF Skinner that discusses the verbal behavior vocabulary (echoic, mand, tact, intraverbal)
-ABA approach to expressive language skills
-verbal behavior language can be taught
-language assessment & teaching protocol based on BF Skinner’s verbal operants (VB-MAPP)
verbal behavior-milestones assessment and placement program
-used for really young learners
VB-MAPP
-language assessment & teaching protocol based on BF Skinner’s verbal operants
-verbal behavior-milestones assessment and placement program
-used for really young learners
a criterion-referenced communication assessment
communication
ability to use spoken words, gestures, facial expressions, and symbols to convey or receive information, like feelings and thoughts to and from another person
-communication allows a person to get their needs met and for relationships with others
discrete trial instruction
involves breaking skills down into smaller components and teaching those smaller sub-skills individually
-repeated practice of skills is conducted
-teachers may incorporate prompting procedures as necessary
receptive language
-how we interpret language and understand others
-can often be a challenge for kids who have been diagnosed with autism
-the “input” of language
-the ability to understand and comprehend spoken language that you hear or read
initiating joint attention (IJA)
involves use of gestures and eye contact to direct others’ attention to objects, to events, and to themselves
video modeling
-video demonstration of the behavior
-learner then practices the modeled behavior
syntax
the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language
typical early language development across different developmental stages
-3 months: will coo, smile and laugh, begin to play with sounds & communicate with gestures like waving and pointing.
-4-6 months: start babbling, make single-syllable sounds like ‘ba’, babbling is followed by the ‘jargon phase’ (‘speech’ won’t sound like recognisable words)
-10-11 months: baby might speak their first word and know what it means.
-12 months: baby should be using gestures
-12-18 months: say a few words and know what those words mean
communication differences in children with autism
impaired joint attention, language (verbal and nonverbal)
importance of communication
communication allows a person to get their needs met and for relationships with others to be created