ASD ASD Communication and Language Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Mand training in Verbal Behavior (VB) therapy targets which function of language?
- Labeling objects or events (tacting)
- Requesting desired items or actions (Correct answer)
- Repeating what others say (echoing)
- Responding to questions (intraverbal)
Correct answer: Requesting desired items or actions
A mand is B.F. Skinner's term for a verbal operant under motivational control, used to request specific reinforcers.
Question 2: Verbal Behavior therapy, based on Skinner's 'Verbal Behavior,' categorizes language by:
- Syntactic complexity (words, phrases, sentences)
- Functional relationships between the speaker and the environment (Correct answer)
- Phonological and morphological rules
- Receptive vs. expressive language domains
Correct answer: Functional relationships between the speaker and the environment
Skinner's VB framework classifies language by its function (mand, tact, echoic, intraverbal) rather than its structure or form.
Question 3: Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits in ASD primarily affect which communication skill?
- Articulation clarity
- Understanding that others have different perspectives and beliefs (Correct answer)
- Reading speed and fluency
- Long-term verbal memory
Correct answer: Understanding that others have different perspectives and beliefs
ToM deficits impair the ability to attribute mental states to others, making it difficult to understand why people say or do things.
Question 4: Speech-generating devices (SGDs) used as AAC for individuals with ASD should ideally be programmed to reflect the user's:
- Therapist's preferred vocabulary list
- Age-appropriate vocabulary matched to the individual's communication needs and interests (Correct answer)
- Standardized core word lists only, without personalization
- Academic grade-level vocabulary regardless of functional communication needs
Correct answer: Age-appropriate vocabulary matched to the individual's communication needs and interests
Personalizing SGDs with vocabulary relevant to the individual's life, interests, and communication contexts increases device use and communication success.
Question 5: Non-verbal communication difficulties in ASD most commonly include challenges with which of the following?
- Using and interpreting gestures, facial expressions, and body language (Correct answer)
- Producing clear speech sounds and prosody
- Understanding written text and literacy
- Following multi-step verbal instructions
Correct answer: Using and interpreting gestures, facial expressions, and body language
DSM-5 criteria for ASD include deficits in non-verbal communicative behaviors such as gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions.
Question 6: Which approach uses visual scene displays (VSDs) to support communication for individuals with complex communication needs, including ASD?
- PECS Phase 4 training
- Dynamic AAC with contextual scene-based displays (Correct answer)
- Verbal Behavior mand training
- Social Stories narration
Correct answer: Dynamic AAC with contextual scene-based displays
VSDs embed vocabulary within meaningful photos or illustrations of the individual's real-life contexts, improving engagement and communication.
ASD ASD Communication and Language Development 2
Mand training in Verbal Behavior (VB) therapy targets which function of language?