autism exam 3

what is ABA?

applied behavior analysis; uses reinforcement and behavior shaping to teach new skills

ex: teaching a child to say “help” instead of screaming by rewarding the verbal request

what is EIBI?

early intensive intervention; a structured ABA program for children under 5, often 20-40 hrs/wk

ex: a 3-year old receives 1:1 therapy each weekday working on communication and play skills

what is DTT (discrete trial training)?

a structured ABA technique: stimulus→ behavior→ reinforcement

ex: therapist says “whats this?” (stimulus), child says “ball” (behavior), therapist gives a sticker (reinforcement)

what are the core elements of EIBI?

a 1:1 instruction, high intensity, dtt, progress tracking, reinforcement, fidelity of delivery

ex: a BCBA creates a plan, and RBTs implement sessions in-home, tracking stkill master

what is a prompt hierarchy?

a system to guide a child toward independence using levels of support

ex: starting with hand-over-hand prompting and fading to verbal cues

what is the role of motivation in EIBI?

external motivators like food or toys are used to increase engagement

ex: a child earns goldfish crackers for completing a matching task

what is the significance of lovaas (1987)?

found 47% of children in intensive ABA achieved near-typical IQ and classroom placement

DTT vs. modern ABA?

DTT is adult-led and structured; modern ABA includes child preferences and natural reinforcement

ex: DTT uses flashcards at a table, modern ABA teaches “wave bye” during play

what does a discrete trial look like for eye contact?

therapist says child’s name→ child looks up→ therapist says “nice looking!” and gives toy

what is NDBI?

naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions; combines ABA and developmental theory

ex: teaching communication during playtime using the child’s interests

what is incidental teaching?

a strategy embedded in daily routines or play initiated by the child

ex: child reaches for bubbles→ therapist waits→ child says “bruh”→ therapist blows bubbles

what theory influences NDBI?

cognitive and social learning theory, constructivism, ZPD

ex: child learns turn-taking by watching peers and engaging with adult-scaffolding

what is ZPD (zone of proximal development)?

tasks a child can do with help but not yet alone

ex: with guidance, a child learns to stack blocks before doing it independently

NDBI vs. EIBI?

NDBI= play-based, child-led; EIBI= structured, adult-led

ex: EIBI drills “say ball” at a table; NDBI encourages “ball” during play with real toys

what is PRT?

pivotal response training; builds motivation and self-initiation

ex: child picks a toy, says “car”, therapist immediately gives the car as reinforcement

what is JASPER?

intervention to teach joint attention and play skills

ex: adult models pretend play with blocks and encourages shared attention

what is ESDM?

early denver model; routines-based, play-focused approach for toddelrs

ex: teaching language during snack time by labeling “apple” and encouraging choice-making

what does NDBI look like for social play?

therapist joins child’s play, models sharing, waits for child to imitate

why focus on early childhood?

early intervention improves outcomes due to higher brain plasticity

ex: a toddler diagnoses at 2 starts ABA therapy, resulting in improved language by age 4

what is a caregiver-mediated approach?

parents deliver strategies at home after being trained

ex: parent practices turn-taking games at home using visuals and praise

what is PEERS?

a teen-focused program teaching social rules and friendship skills

ex: teens role-play how to start and maintain a conversation

what challenges do adults with ASD face?

low employment rates, mental health issues, and difficulty living independently

ex: an adult loses a job due to difficulty reading social cues

what is project SEARCH?

a job training program that pairs students with internships

what are the four functions of behavior?

access: screaming to get candy

attention: throwing to get adult reaction

escape: hiding under desk to avoid math

sensory: hand-flapping for self-regulation

what is the ABC model?

antecedent: asked to clean up

behavior: yelling

consequence: task removed

what is an autistic meltdown?

intense, non-goal-driven behavior due to overwhelm

ex: a child cries and covers ears in a loud cafeteria due to sensory overload

name a biological intervention with mixed evidence.

GF/CF diet (gluten-free/casein-free)

ex: parents eliminate dairy to see if behavior improves- results vary

what is neurofeedback?

a therapy that trains brain activity using feedback

ex: a child watches a video that only plays when they stay calm/focused

what is CBT used for in ASD?

cognitive behavioral therapy treats anxiety and emotional regulation

ex: teen with ASD learns coping strategies for test anxiety

what is animal-assisted therapy?

using animals to support social or emotional growth

ex: a therapy dog encourages calm and interaction in sessions

what is sensory integration therapy?

helps manage sensory processing differences

ex: a child swings in a sensory room to reduce overstimulation

what is social validity?

the acceptability and meaningfulness of an intervention

ex: a family prefers a therapy that fits their culture and routine

what did sturm (2020) reveal?

service access disparities in LAUSD based on race/disability

ex: black and latine students with disabilities received fewer services than white peers