화자집중훈련(Speaker Immersion)이 자폐스펙트럼 장애를 가진 유아의 자발적인 맨드(Mand) 및 택트(Tact) 행동 증가에 미치는 영향

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a Speaker Immersion Procedure on frequency of spontaneous mands and tacts in children with autism spectrum disorders. The study was conducted for 2 girls(4-, 6-year old) and 3 boys (4-, 6-year old) with autism spectrum disorders in a private agency where Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention was provided in a metropolitan city. All of the participants had mands and tact but didn’t show spontaneous mands and tacts. Data were collected in a delayed multiple baseline across participant design. Target behaviors were spontaneous mands and tacts when relevant establishing operations were in place. Intervention was Speaker Immersion during which an intensive mand training was provided with captured or devised establishing operations through a Behavior Chain Interruption Strategies. Relevant establishing operations were manipulated during daily routine such as using bathroom or snack time. The children needed to mand for each step of daily routine in order to complete the routine. For example, the children were required to mand for pulling up pants, using soap, water, paper towel and etc. in order to finish using the bathroom. 6-15 establishing operations were manipulated during one intervention session. During the intervention, the experimenter provided echoic prompts if the children didn’t emit independent mands within 3 to 5 seconds after a relevant establishing operation was in place. The prompted mands were followed immediate reinforcement. Generalizations were tested in other settings such as at a play ground, during art activity or free plays. Spontaneous tacts were also tested to see whether increasing spontaneous mands during daily routine induce increased tacts. The results showed that the intervention procedure were effective in increasing spontaneous and independent mands during training sessions. The results of generalizations and increasing tacts varied across the participants. The results were discussed in terms of the level of verbal capabilities of each participant.