Functional Communication Training
Functional Communication Training
Through our ABA therapy programs, the children in our care at Ascend ABA learn essential skills to help them succeed. Often, learning or expanding communication skills is an important focus of our ABA sessions.
One of the ways that we promote effective communication for our clients is through functional communication training (FCT). In FCT, we focus on teaching our clients to communicate for items, activities, or changes in the environment that are identified during the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) to result in increased interfering behavior. This intervention can help reduce challenging behaviors by giving clients efficient ways to communicate for things they want, rather than resorting in interfering behaviors such as aggression, self-injurious behavior, or property destruction.
One of the ways that we promote effective communication for our clients is through functional communication training (FCT). In FCT, we focus on teaching our clients to communicate for items, activities, or changes in the environment that are identified during the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) to result in increased interfering behavior. This intervention can help reduce challenging behaviors by giving clients efficient ways to communicate for things they want, rather than resorting in interfering behaviors such as aggression, self-injurious behavior, or property destruction.
What Is Functional Communication Training?
Functional communication training (FCT) is an important intervention for many of our clients. The goal of this intervention is to teach a more effective means of communication to serve as a replacement behavior for those who exhibit potentially harmful or dangerous behaviors (e.g., aggression, self-injurious behavior, and pica).
Many types of behaviors serve as a form of communication, including gestures, picture exchange, sign language, and vocal speech. Even interfering behaviors may serve as a form of communication for some of our clients who may not yet have robust communication skills, albeit not the most desirable one. For example, a child who wants a specific type of food, but can’t communicate what they want, might have a tantrum when they’re served something different. In this example, we may be able to teach the child to appropriately ask for a different food item using a procedure such as FCT.
Through FCT, those with autism spectrum disorder can learn how to use different forms of communication, both verbal and nonverbal. Some of the forms of communication that can be taught through FCT include:
Functional communication training works in tandem with other programs and services at Ascend. That’s because functional communication training doesn’t exist to take the place of speech therapy and ABA therapy—instead, it’s part of a comprehensive approach to increasing speech as well as positive behaviours
- Gestures
- Sign language
- Speech
- Symbols
Functional communication training works in tandem with other programs and services at Ascend. That’s because functional communication training doesn’t exist to take the place of speech therapy and ABA therapy—instead, it’s part of a comprehensive approach to increasing speech as well as positive behaviours
Extending FCT Programs
With the information gathered during the comprehensive assessment completed with each client, our BCBAs may work to improve communication skills as a part of a client’s behavior support plan, or BSP. This may include FCT, where our team arranges opportunities for our client to practice using a specific communication response, such as picture exchange, to access preferred items, activities, or changes in environment. If FCT is successful, levels of this appropriate communication will increase, while rates of interfering behavior will decrease and remain low over time.
Once this occurs, we may work to increase our client’s tolerance with periods where they cannot access the preferred item, activity, or environmental change. Additional intervention components might be necessary to help our clients participate fully in ongoing activities. For example, we may teach a client to communicate for a brief break from work periods where interfering behavior is more likely to occur; however, there are typically times in which a break can not be provided or is not appropriate at that time. In this case, we may include an additional intervention component, such as a token economy system, to help our client engage with work periods for longer periods of time.
Once this occurs, we may work to increase our client’s tolerance with periods where they cannot access the preferred item, activity, or environmental change. Additional intervention components might be necessary to help our clients participate fully in ongoing activities. For example, we may teach a client to communicate for a brief break from work periods where interfering behavior is more likely to occur; however, there are typically times in which a break can not be provided or is not appropriate at that time. In this case, we may include an additional intervention component, such as a token economy system, to help our client engage with work periods for longer periods of time.
Contact Ascend ABA
At Ascend ABA we’re committed to providing support to both our clients and their families or caregivers. From diagnosis to adulthood, we offer adaptable treatment plans that address challenging behaviour before it escalates. And for the loved ones of those with ASD, we provide training as well as ongoing support.
In addition to functional communication training, we offer social skills training for both children and adults. Our goal is to help all of those with ASD communicate effectively and participate as fully as possible in daily activities they find valuable, whether that involves going to school or making connections with others.
Learn more about Ascend ABA’s treatment options by connecting with our Family Support Team today at 888-998-8590.
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