Parent-Clinicians in the Language Training of an Autistic Child

Abstract

The parents of a 10-year-old autistic boy were trained in using modeling-reinforcement procedures to improve the language skills of their child. They conducted therapy for 125 45-minute sessions and were supervised after every five sessions. Initially the child used about 100 words, but most of them were intelligible only to his parents. After training, he was able to articulate 83 words acceptably; in addition, he could label pictures of objects and use short phrases. Definite improvements were also noted in his initiative and ability in communicating outside the home. However, his speech does not begin to approximate that of a normal 10-year-old.