DDA Communication Strategies & Behavioral Support 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client's behavior support plan lists 'escape' as the function of their aggressive behavior. Which intervention is most appropriate?
- Immediately remove the task when aggression occurs
- Teach the client a functional communication skill to request a break (Correct answer)
- Increase task demands to build tolerance
- Implement a token economy focused on task completion
Correct answer: Teach the client a functional communication skill to request a break
When escape is the function, teaching a replacement behavior such as requesting a break addresses the same need without aggression.
Question 2: What does the term 'least restrictive alternative' mean in behavioral support?
- Using the cheapest available intervention
- Choosing the intervention with the fewest side effects
- Implementing the least intrusive intervention that is still effective before considering more restrictive approaches (Correct answer)
- Avoiding all behavioral interventions
Correct answer: Implementing the least intrusive intervention that is still effective before considering more restrictive approaches
Least restrictive alternative requires trying the most positive, least intrusive methods first and only escalating to more restrictive interventions when necessary.
Question 3: A nonverbal client hands you an empty cup repeatedly. Using the PECS framework, what communication stage does this likely represent?
- Stage I — Physical Exchange (Correct answer)
- Stage III — Picture Discrimination
- Stage IV — Sentence Structure
- Stage VI — Responsive Commenting
Correct answer: Stage I — Physical Exchange
Stage I of PECS involves the individual physically exchanging an object or picture to request something, which the gesture of handing an empty cup approximates.
Question 4: A staff member notices a client becomes calm after squeezing a stress ball. This is an example of what type of strategy?
- Sensory-based self-regulation strategy (Correct answer)
- Positive punishment
- Escape extinction
- Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)
Correct answer: Sensory-based self-regulation strategy
Using a sensory tool to manage arousal levels is a self-regulation strategy that leverages sensory input to achieve a calmer state.
Question 5: Which data collection method is best for tracking how often a client engages in a specific behavior per hour?
- Duration recording
- Latency recording
- Frequency/rate recording (Correct answer)
- Momentary time sampling
Correct answer: Frequency/rate recording
Frequency or rate recording counts how many times a behavior occurs within a defined time period, making it ideal for tracking occurrences per hour.
Question 6: When implementing a social story for a client with autism, what is the recommended ratio of descriptive to directive sentences?
- Equal parts descriptive and directive
- Mostly directive sentences with few descriptive ones
- At least two to five descriptive sentences for every directive sentence (Correct answer)
- Only directive sentences to keep it simple
Correct answer: At least two to five descriptive sentences for every directive sentence
Carol Gray's Social Stories guidelines recommend two to five descriptive, perspective, or affirmative sentences for every directive sentence to avoid the story feeling like a list of commands.
Question 7: A client with limited verbal communication uses consistent eye contact and reaching toward objects to express wants. Staff should do which of the following?
- Encourage verbal attempts before fulfilling requests
- Respond to and reinforce these communicative behaviors while building on them (Correct answer)
- Ignore these behaviors to discourage non-verbal communication
- Document these behaviors as behavioral concerns
Correct answer: Respond to and reinforce these communicative behaviors while building on them
Responding to and reinforcing any communicative attempt — even pre-symbolic ones — builds communication motivation and establishes a foundation for more complex skills.
DDA Communication Strategies & Behavioral Support 3
A client's behavior support plan lists 'escape' as the function of their aggressive behavior.
Which intervention is most appropriate?