“What’s this?”
“Blue.”
“Great Job!! What’s this?”
“Blue.”
“Awesome! Touch your nose. Clap. High Five. What’s this?”
“Blue!”
“Way to go!”
This is just one example of discrete trial teaching (DTT). DTT is an important part of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy used to help individuals with an Autism diagnosis learn and communicate.
If your child has recently been diagnosed with Autism or special needs, you’re hearing a lot of new terminologies. All the new information can feel overwhelming. How can you find the right treatment when you’re not sure what all this means?
Keep reading to learn more about discrete trial teaching and how it can help you, the parents, make informed treatment decisions for your child.
What is Applied Behavior Analysis?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a common and effective treatment for individuals diagnosed with Autism. ABA therapy aims to reward or reinforce positive behaviors.
ABA uses specific methods to teach language, social skills, potty training, and other academic concepts. Since children are unique individuals, no two ABA programs will look the same. While the specific treatment is individualized, ABA therapy is made of up several different methods of teaching. One of these methods is called Discrete Trial Teaching, or DTT.
So how is ABA different from Discrete Trial Teaching? Discrete Trial Teaching is one component or method used in an ABA therapy program.
What is Discrete Trial Teaching?
Discrete Trial Teaching is usually administered 1:1. That means a child sits with their teacher at a table, desk, or comfortable space free of distractions. DTT is used to teach academic concepts, social cues, or other skills.
Discrete Trial Teaching goals are usually determined by the child’s care team, which includes parents and caregivers. Once the child has mastered these goals, they can move on to the next set of goals and will review mastered skills.
Stimulus or SD
A stimulus is anything that brings a response. Kids in school hear a bell (stimulus) and know it’s time for class to begin or end. If your stomach grumbles, it means you’re hungry. The stimulus in this situation is your grumbling tummy.
When you see a green light, you know it’s time to drive. When you see the green light stimulus, you know it’s time to move your foot from the brake to the gas pedal.
Discrete Trial Teaching starts with a stimulus. This can be a picture or a question, or even a word. Let’s use the example from the beginning of this article. The stimulus is the teacher asking “What’s This?” and pointing or holding up something blue (probably a blue card).
When a behavior therapist reads or writes their program notes, they would see something similar to this SD: What’s This? The SD is an abbreviation for stimulus.
Prompting Stimulus or SP
If the therapist is introducing something new, they’ll likely begin by using a prompt, or help. When teaching the color blue, the therapist gives the child the full answer (or prompt) at first. Once the child learns to say “blue” on their own, the therapist or teacher will fade this prompt.
In other words, a prompting stimulus isn’t always a part of DTT but it might be.
Response or R
This is what you want the child to do. If you’re teaching colors, you want your child to learn to say “blue” when he or she sees blue. If you’re teaching eye contact once the child hears his or her name, the response may be the child looking or responding.
Target responses are based on the goals of the child’s ABA Therapy program. Many times, these responses start as small portions of larger goals. The more responses the child masters, the more tools he or she has in her skills toolbox.
Reinforcement or SR
Reinforcement is the therapist or teacher’s response to the child’s success. In the blue example, the therapist was providing a lot of verbal reinforcement. “Great job!” and “Awesome!” are examples of verbal reinforcement.
Some kids respond better to favorite toys or clips of their favorite TV shows. Some may like stickers or a progress chart to track their correct answers. Reinforcement for your child’s program should be anything they find motivating or enjoyable.
Once a child learns correct responses equal a fun reward, they’re more likely to repeat the correct response. Reinforcement is also a great way to have fun and bond with their client.
Therapy can be hard work for kiddos but when it’s paired with things they like, it will feel more like play.
Inter-Trial Intervals or ITI
A trial refers to each round of this cycle. Inter-Trial Intervals are things the teacher asks between trials. In the blue example, the teacher or therapist said “Touch your nose.” and “High Five!” these are things the client can do between rounds of learning.
ITIs help clients re-set between learning concepts, build enthusiasm and fun. ITIs also serve as a way to see if a child can remember their response after a few seconds away from it.
This increases generalization (using skills in different settings and times). ITI time is another fun way therapist and child can have fun together.
Choosing the Right Program
If your child has an Autism or other Special Needs diagnosis, you’ve already been through a lot. As parents, it’s easy to feel stressed about enrolling your child in the right program. Underneath the data and acronyms are real people who want to build relationships and see your child succeed.
Enrolling Your Child in Path2Potential
Discrete trial teaching is just one part of our ABA Therapy program. Everything we do at Path2Potential ABA therapy is guided by five core principles:
- Client Improvement
- Ethical Decisions and Treatment
- Family Focus
- Organizational Communication
- Maintaining a Culture of Excellence
Our team of professionals would love to talk about a partnership with your family today. Give us a call at 1-833-AUTISM2, and check out what other families are saying. Together, we can help your child find success, one trial at a time.