1. Communication difficulties are universally present in individuals with autism. This has lead many researchers to speculate that deficits in communication and social interaction may be the primary cause of autism and that other symptoms such as behavioral problems are secondary as a result of these underlying communication based difficulties. There is a direct correlation between communication and language difficulties and inappropriate behaviors such as aggression, self stim, and self injury.

2. Language Characteristics

a. Nonverbal
b. Delayed verbal
c. Echolalic

3. Intervention Discrete Trial Training

a. Setting: quiet, distraction free at first
b. Technique:
    Break skill into small parts, teach one sub-skill at a time
    Each skill is mastered before moving to the next
c. Prompting Techniques:
    Least intrusive prompt
    Pointing
    Verbal cue
    Demonstration
    Physical Guidance
d. Reinforcement procedure
    Tangibles, i.e. food, drink, toys
    Social praise
    Use rules of reinforcement
e. Mastery Criteria
    Student responds correctly 80% of trials for 2 to 3 days before
    going to the next skill
f. Structure
    2 to 3 hours per day
    50/50 balance of work and play
    3 discrete trials then similarly length break
    build to more trials per session

4. Components of a Discrete Trial

a. Instruction
b. Prompt if needed
c. Child’s response
d. Reinforcement or feedback
e. Intertrial interval

5. Curriculum

a. Makes eye contact
b. Imitates gross motor movements
c. Imitates action with objects
d. Imitates fine motor movements
e. Imitates oral motor movements
f. Follows one-step commands
g. Body parts
h. Objects
i. Pictures
j. Identifies familiar people
k. Points to pictures in book
l. Verbs
m. Functions of Objects
n. Identifies sounds
o. Points to desired item
p. Requests desired items verbally

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