Verbal Behavior and ABA

Verbal Behavior, also known as VB, is a method of teaching language to individuals with autism. VB focuses on the idea that a meaning of a word is found in their functions. The term was coined by B.F. Skinner, considered by many to be the grandfather of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). To teach a child with autism or other special needs with language delays a meaning of a word, one must first teach its function. As an example, Instead of just teaching a word, we must teach them how to functionally apply those words. For example, a child with autism might say the word “toilet” when they see one, but may not be able to say “toilet” when they need to use the bathroom or answer correctly when asked what a toilet is used for.

Although VB and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are both derived from philosophies established by Skinner, they use different approaches to teaching language. Some believe that Verbal Behavior Intervention is a good addition to ABA, the only evidence based, highly effective autism intervention. According to Skinner, language is broken into parts that have different objectives. According to Skinner, the basic verbal parts of language include echoics, mands, tacts, and intraverbals. The term ‘mand’ refers to the child demanding or requesting what he desires. This process works as follows: a child says apple when he wants an apple. When she is given an apple, her language is immediately reinforced through various reinforcements (snacks, toys, hugs and kisses, etc) as she is likely to repeat this action with positive reinforcements if it follows the desired behavior. In essence, the child is taught to use language in a functional way by verbally requesting what she wants.

With ABA therapy, the child is not necessarily taught to verbally request what they want, but to communicate it in some way; whether verbally, signing or gesturing, as an example. In the ABA method of teaching language, children are taught to label or name things. For example, they will learn to say the word “phone” when they see a phone. Since they are not necessarily taught the function of the phone, they may not be able to use this word in a sentence. Since the focus of VB is to teach functional communication, it complements the ABA approach.

Skills Developed Using Verbal Behavior

Verbal Behavior intervention works on developing communication skills, including receptive and expressive language across the verbal operants of mand (requesting), tact (labeling), echoics (vocal imitation), intraverbal (conversational skills). Learning across the operants also includes working on gross and fine motor imitation, textual (writing), and listener (following instructions).

Benefits of Verbal Behavior

Verbal Behavior is a great approach that can be combined with other teaching methods such as Discrete Trial Training (DTT) or Natural Environment Training (NET). In fact, combining the total operants of Verbal Behavior across both DTT and NET may contribute to acquiring a more comprehensive language repertoire (Sundberg & Michael, 2001). Children need the functional skills across the verbal operants to increase verbal behavior, particularly in environments with their peers (Sundberg & Michael, 2001). A child without strong intraverbal (conversational) skills may not be able to interact appropriately in response to their peers’ verbal behavior, which may weaken further interactions.

Verbal behavior also capitalizes on the child’s own motivation, teaching the child to
communicate what he desires. This ability to mand (request), can reduce problematic behavior which used to function as a means for obtaining the desired item.

References:

Bondy, A., Esch, B. E., Esch, J. W., & Sundberg, M. (2010). Questions on Verbal Behavior and its Application to Individuals with Autism: An Interview with the Experts. Behavior Analyst Today, 11(3), 186-205.

Sundberg, M. L., Michael, J. (2001). The benefits of Skinner’s analysis of verbal behaviour for children with autism. Behavior Modification, 25(5), 698 – 724