A Comprehensive Training Model And Its Application Based On DTT And PRT On Joint Attention Of Children With Autism

Although joint attention is a core defect of children with autism,it is also one of the critical skills for interventions in early age.Research found that autistic children have developmental disorders in joint attention,which affects its follow-up social skills,an important factor in defects.Currently,the mainstream proven-effective intervention models include: Structured training as the core of the round of teaching Discrete Trial Training(DTT)and Pivotal Response Training(PRT).However,it is unclear that how we can effectively construct a DTT and PRT based training model that provides intervention to the joint attention ability of autistic children in their early childhood.This study aims to improve our understanding on this issue.The first part of this study examines the prior literature,analyzes the theories and methods of joint attention of children with autism at home and abroad.On this basis,combining with the Dick Kerry teaching design model,we constructed the comprehensive training model of autism combined with DTT and PRT.The model starts from the characteristics of children with autism and focuses on several target behaviors of children with autism.We then report the procedure and results of the single test method and the questionnaire survey method.In particular,using Single Case Multiple Baseline Design,we selected four research participants from a rehabilitation center for children with autism in Hang Zhou.According to the comprehensive training model constructed in this study,we conducted training on three target behaviors,eye sites exchanging,fingers following and active showing.After the tests,we followed up with the teachers and parents of the autistic children.Our results show that:(1)The training model can effectively improve the joint attention of children with autism in behaviors of eye sites exchanging and fingers following.(2)There seems to be some difficulties in improving the active showing behavior.(3)Different autistic children show different ability of responding to and maintaining the effects of the intervention.This study contributes to the theory of early intervention about joint attention of children with autism,by validating while innovating the common training model.Considering the complexity and diversity of autism,the findings of study supports the notion of early intervention to autistic children.