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Effects of a Behavior Intervention Package on Augmented and Vocal Mands by Children with Developmental Disabilities

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Abstract

Various types of augmentative and alternative communication systems have been successfully used to enable functional communication in children with developmental disabilities. The effects of such systems on natural speech production have also been investigated, but few studies have explored the effects of specific procedures aim at inducing natural speech within interventions focused on teaching functional use of augmentative and alternative communication systems. The current study investigated the effectiveness of a behavior intervention package for teaching functional use (manding) of an augmentative and alternative communication device and production of vocal mands with three children with developmental disabilities. The findings indicated that combining augmented and the behavioral intervention package facilitated the acquisition of vocalization and augmented mands. Further, one child showed generalization of the two different communication modes across communicative partners. Limitations of the study and implications are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Appreciation is extended to Dr. Jeff Sigafoos for helpful comments on a previous version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education, College of Education, King Saud University, P. O. Box: 266, Riyadh, 11567, Saudi Arabia

    Nouf M. Alzrayer

  2. Department of Special Education and Child Development, Cato College of Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA

    Reem Muharib & Charles Wood

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  1. Nouf M. Alzrayer
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  2. Reem Muharib
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Correspondence to Nouf M. Alzrayer.

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Alzrayer, N.M., Muharib, R. & Wood, C. Effects of a Behavior Intervention Package on Augmented and Vocal Mands by Children with Developmental Disabilities. J Dev Phys Disabil 32, 57–74 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-019-09681-5

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