Verbal Behavior

Verbal behavior is another aba technique to teach children with autism. This procedure focuses on language, whether it is expressive communication, sign language, or however a child will communicate.

When using a verbal behavior strategy, you first focus on manding. Manding is another word for requesting. We know that when children first communicate its to get their wants and needs met. So, you teach these children to request. This procedure is first done in a natural environment setting. What I mean is that you are on the floor with the child wants to play with or sometimes edibles and drinks work best at first because they are usually most motivating at first. Once you know what the child wants, if you can get hold of it first, it gives the child an opportunity to ask for it. You do this by holding the item, saying the item, saying the name if the item three times, and see if the child will give any type of verbal and it could be paired with signing as well. If the child gives any response , you give the item, if after three trials no response you give it anyway. Three tries is enough opportunities for the child to hear it and not to many to exhibit frustration.

This is done until the child has enough items he or she can request for. Once that happens more table setting programs come into play. If the child already request, then you go to table work and continue to do natural environment teaching to expand the child's vocabulary. The idea is to increase the child's spontaneous request using one or more words

This is just an introduction to how a verbal behavior program begins. To find more information please refer to the following text link.

verbal behavior