• Tana A. Watson

  Author

• K. Mark Derby

  Author

• T. F. McLaughlin

  Author

Persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display difficulties
interacting with their peers and care providers. In fact, social deficits are an essential diagnostic feature of ASD. Functional Communication Training (FCT) is one of the most common and effective treatments for communication and behavioral needs of children with developmental disabilities. Its application to children with ASD is robust. An essential feature of FCT is that it has been shown to result in generalized effects.
That is, positive social interactive behaviors have been shown to increase in occurrence. The essential feature of FCT is that differential reinforcement contingencies are applied to increase a desired social response if problem behaviors are placed on an extinction schedule. Specifically, more appropriate forms of communication are consequated using identified functional reinforcers. To date, there
are several treatments to increase social behaviors in children with ASD, which utilize differential reinforcement as an essential component including picture exchange communication system (PECS), pivotal response therapy (PRT) and FCT. In addition, there are a number of procedures that, although commonly used, lack empirical support
in the recent literature. The purpose of this review is to examine the treatment effectiveness of differential reinforcement based treatments designed to increase communication and social skills of children with ASD. In addition, we will provide a review of two commonly used procedures, Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) and DIR/Floortime™ that lack empirical support in the recent literature. Nevertheless, due to their widespread use, the utility of the application procedures will be discussed. 

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