The Effect of Discrete Trial Teaching Using Visual Support Techniques, Specifically Arrow Cues, on Echolalia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Discrete Trial Teaching utilizing visual arrow supports on reducing the use of echolalia in children with autism spectrum disorders. The study participants included three children with autism spectrum disorders who exhibited echolalic speech. The research design employed a multiple baseline across subjects design. The intervention consisted of two phases: in Phase 1, participants were taught to respond to cues with arrow visual supports for labeling, while in Phase 2, participants were taught to respond to cues using arrow motion cards as visual supports to understand and replace echolalic utterances with relevant responses. The results of the study indicated that the echolalia usage of all three children decreased during intervention and this reduction was maintained and generalized across sessions. These findings suggest that individual interventions utilizing visual arrow supports can be an effective method to reduce echolalia in children with autism spectrum disorders who are characterized as visual learners.