Discrete Trial Training is a form of ABA. It is a short, instructional training that breaks down an activity into three distinct components: (1) an instruction by the teacher or therapist (2) a response or behavior of the child and a (3) a consequence. (The consequence is what happens to the child following a behavior.)
Many discrete trial programs rely heavily on directions or commands as the signal to begin the discrete trial. In the beginning, an edible treat, affection, praise or another reward is often given the child as the consequence. DTT programs sometimes used aversives (punishment) in the past. In general, if an aversive is used today, it will be very minor such as saying "No!"
In Discrete Trial Training (DTT), the beginning lessons center around basic functions. Children learn to attend, to control tantrums and other maladaptive behaviors. At the same time, they are taught positive behaviors, such as "Look at my eyes."
After an instruction, if the child responds appropriately, he may be given an favorite edible. As the program progresses, the rewards can be changed to social reinforcers such as hugs or praise. DTT is a methodology that is teacher directed, with the child following the lead of the instructor. Often DTT programs can be up to forty hours a week of one-on-one training. As the program progresses, simple lessons are combined to teach more complex tasks and social behavior.
Excerpted from Dave Sherman's book, Autism: Asserting Your Child's Rights to a Special Education
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