Training Parents via Telehealth to Teach Manding to Children with ASD to Replace Problem Behavior

Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness of using Behavioral Skills Training (BST) for parent training to implement functional behavior training and video modeling via a telehealth platform designed to increase manding abilities and to decrease problem behaviors with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). With eight participants, this study used a multiplebaseline design across subjects (four parents and four children with ASD). The research was divided into three phases: parent training, baseline, and intervention. BST was administered remotely from the United States through synchronous video conferencing with families in different countries in the Middle East. All parents were able to learn to identify the function of their child’s problem behavior, to create video models, and to implement the functional communication intervention. Problem behaviors were eliminated or nearly eliminated for all participants, and all participants were able to use manding independently to request desired items. Manding generalized to other settings for two of the four participants. The intervention was well received by all participants and the study's social validity questionnaire revealed that all parents were satisfied with the training. The results of this study have significant implications for clinical application and contribute a meaningful and unique approach to add to the academic literature in ABA.