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Effects of a Modified Milieu Therapy Intervention on the Social Communicative Behaviors of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combining milieu therapy and functional communication training (FCT)] to replace aberrant behavior with functional communicative skills in 3 male preschool or elementary aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Study activities were conducted in the natural environments of the participants and parents acted as change agents. A concurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the modified milieu therapy intervention. Results indicate that aberrant behavior decreased concurrent with an increase in total percentage of communication responses (PCR). The children maintained communication and low rates of aberrant behavior, and generalized their communication from the home to the classroom. A discussion of limitations and future research directions is included.

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Acknowledgments

G. Richmond Mancil conducted this study in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral degree at the University of Florida. Development of this paper was supported in part with funding from the Organization for Autism Research, awarded to the first author. The opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily reflective of the position or endorsed by the Organization for Autism Research.

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Author notes

  1. Maureen A. Conroy

    Present address: Department of Special Education and Disability Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

  2. Todd F. Haydon

    Present address: Division of Teacher Education, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    G. Richmond Mancil, Maureen A. Conroy & Todd F. Haydon

  2. Kelly Autism Program, Western Kentucky University, 104 14th Street, Bowling Green, KY, 42101, USA

    G. Richmond Mancil

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  1. G. Richmond Mancil
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  3. Todd F. Haydon
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Correspondence to G. Richmond Mancil.

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Mancil, G.R., Conroy, M.A. & Haydon, T.F. Effects of a Modified Milieu Therapy Intervention on the Social Communicative Behaviors of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 149–163 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0613-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0613-3

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