Addressing Prompt Dependency in the Treatment of Challenging Behavior Maintained by Access to Tangible Items

Abstract

Prompt dependency is a common concern for individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly autism spectrum disorder. Previous research has shown that different interventions can be used to decrease prompt dependency. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of various treatments to decrease prompt dependency during functional communication training in the treatment of challenging behavior maintained by access to tangible items in a 16-year-old female diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we compared the effects of differential reinforcement, vocal prompt fading, extended response intervals, and full physical prompts with a constant prompt delay to increase independent functional communication responses. The results of the study suggest that the prompt dependency treatment evaluation was efficacious in increasing independent functional communication responses and subsequently reducing challenging behavior to zero rates.

Keywords

• challenging behavior
• functional communication training
• prompt dependency
• tangible function