Intervention, Support and Context for Neurodevelopmental Conditions

Question 1

Name 3 early interventions (especially used in Autism)

Answer 1

Psychoeducation Programmes
Communication Interventions
Picture Exchange Communication Systems

Question 2

What (brief summary) do picture exchange systems involve?

Answer 2

A young person will exchange picture cards with a caregiver in order to receive the item in the picture. This is in the hopes of enabling the individual to better communicate their needs.

Question 3

What are the 6 phases of Picture Exchange Communication Systems?

Answer 3

Phase 1- Learn to exchange picture card for an item or activity
Phase 2- Repeat this task with different places and people, also require more persistence and intention from the young person in the exchange
Phase 3- the young person must select from 2 or 3 cards and use the card to select their prefered item/activity
Phase 4- Cards are now phrases (i.e. “I want” and “and”, placed on a velcro strip) and the young person must arrange them in the correct order to get their desired item/activity
Phase 5- Learn to answer questions by holding up a card (i.e. answering “what do you want?”)
Phase 6- Young people learn to use cards for other questions, such as “what do you hear”, holding up a “I hear” card before their answer

Question 4

What are the requirements for Applied Behavioural Analysis (first published in 1987)

Answer 4

Should be started before the age of 3
At least 40 hours per week (wtf why do they make kids do this)
Should last at least 2 years (just let them be autistic ffs)
Uses one-to-one discrete trials

Question 5

Briefly summarise how Applied Behavioural Analysis Works

Answer 5

Applied behavioural analysis involves analysing current behaviours and how they are learned in order to alter a young person’s behaviour to improve language, communication, social skills, attention, memory, academics and decrease problem behaviours

Question 6

What are some positives of Applied Behavioural Analysis?

Answer 6

Helps encourage positive interactions with parents
how to reduce oppositional behaviour
Can Facilitate Communication

Question 7

What are some cons of Applied Behavioural Analysis?

Answer 7

Can be seen as “training someone to be neurotypical”
Can give parents a false sense of hope of a “cure”
Expensive to carry out, both the training and receive
Not always a positive outcome
There is historical use of harsh punishment in ABA
Discourages stimming and ASC stereotypes behaviour- though this can be very useful for ASC people
Hard to judge what it is like when “effective”, the person becomes less “autistic”? Or is it just teaching kids to mask?