The effectiveness of audio scripts and script fading procedure to increase vocal communication of children with autism spectrum disorders

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of audio script and script fading procedure on acquiring, maintaining and generalizing of verbal communication skills of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In addition, which language level (level of elaboration) was used by participants was examine during audio script and script fading procedure. Furthermore the opinions of the parents, whose children participated the research, were assessed on the study. Participants' interactions with communication partner, who were their mothers or fathers, were targeted by way of preffered toys in the study. During this procedure, the scripts were taught by small round audio recorder, the Go Talk Button, attached to each toys, after then those scripts were faded gradually. Once the participants initiated vocally, the communication partners provided vocal responses, If participants elaborated with any statments after conversation partners' statements they were reinforced. Although verbal initiations skills were mainly dependent variable, data of elaborations were also gathered and analyzed. Three children with ASD, whose ages were between four and six, as subjects and one of their parents as communication partner participated in the study. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants, one of single subject design, was used. The effectiveness data were gathered from baseline, intermittent probes, instervention, generalization and maintanence sessions. Additionally, social validity and reliability data were also collected. At the end of the study, the effectiveness data were analyzed graphically. The social validity data gathered from the parents, were analyzed qualitatively. The results of the study has shown that the verbal initiations emitted by subjects were increased during audio script and script fading procedure. Also participants have generalized targeted verbal initiations across different setttings and people. In addition, the participants have maintained the acquired skills during one, two and four weeks after intervention was completed. The data of elaborations has showed that one of the subjects increased the elaborations more than the others. The social validity findings has showed that parents opinions regarding audio script and script fading procedure were positive.