Nomeação bidirecional em crianças com autismo: efeitos dos procedimentos de observação de pareamento de estímulos e instrução com múltiplos exemplares

Abstract

There is evidence that Multiple Exemplar Instruction (MEI) and Stimulus Pairing Observation Procedure (SPOP) can induce bidirectional naming (integration of speaker and listener responses) in people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We compared the relative efficacy of MEI and SPOP for establishing bidirectional naming in four children with ASD. We also assessed the relationship between occurrence of echoic responses and naming responses. Only one participant showed emergence of complete bidirectional naming after having undergone the two experimental treatments (first SPOP, then MEI). Two participants demonstrated emergence of the listener component after undergoing SPOP treatment. During the final naming test, the listener component emerged for two participants and one participant increased responses in both components, relative to baseline. Echoic responses showed no relationship with emergence of naming repertoires during bidirectional naming probes, nor with the number of sessions to reach learning criterion. We discuss the added efficacy of presenting both treatments in sequence and the importance of using reinforcing stimuli in procedures aimed at teaching bidirectional naming.