The recent study titled "Effectiveness of a Brief Functional Analysis and Functional Communication Training Conducted Through Telehealth" provides significant insights into how telehealth can be leveraged to improve outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This blog aims to help practitioners enhance their skills by implementing the research outcomes or by encouraging further research in this area.
Understanding the Study
The study evaluated the effectiveness of conducting a brief functional analysis (FA) and functional communication training (FCT) via telehealth. Three interventionist-child dyads participated, including one speech and language pathologist and two school teaching assistants, each working with one child with ASD. The interventionists were trained using didactic methods and synchronous coaching from a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®).
Key Findings
- Telehealth is a valid model for enabling clinicians to work with school personnel to deliver assessment and intervention procedures effectively.
- Interventionists were able to conduct a brief FA and implement FCT with high fidelity through telehealth coaching.
- Challenging behaviors, including aggression, elopement, and disruption, were significantly reduced through FCT overseen via telehealth.
Practical Implications for Practitioners
For practitioners looking to improve their skills, the following strategies based on the study's findings can be beneficial:
- Embrace Telehealth: Utilize telehealth platforms to conduct functional assessments and interventions. This approach is particularly useful in regions with limited access to qualified professionals.
- Implement Brief FA: Conducting brief functional analyses can be more efficient and still yield accurate results in identifying the function of challenging behaviors.
- FCT Implementation: Train interventionists to implement FCT via telehealth. Ensure they reach high fidelity in their practice to achieve significant reductions in challenging behaviors.
- Continuous Training: Provide ongoing support and training to interventionists to prevent burnout and ensure the sustainability of interventions.
Encouraging Further Research
The study underscores the need for further research on telehealth-based interventions, particularly in international contexts where access to qualified professionals is limited. Future research should focus on refining telehealth methodologies and exploring new functional assessment techniques that may be more time-efficient.
Conclusion
Telehealth presents a promising avenue for delivering behavior analytic services to children with ASD, especially in underserved regions. Practitioners are encouraged to adopt telehealth strategies and continue exploring innovative methods to enhance the effectiveness of their interventions.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Effectiveness of a Brief Functional Analysis and Functional Communication Training Conducted Through Telehealth.
