Early intervention program for a child with suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder : case study

Abstract

Cilj ovog rada bio je evaluirati utjecaj provedbe individualiziranog programa na razvoj vještina djeteta s PSA. Sudionik je bio dječak G. R. sa sumnjom na PSA, u dobi od 31 mjesec. Za procjenu dječakovih sposobnosti korišteni su Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2 Lord, Rutter i sur., 2012) te Verbal Behavior Milestones Assesment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP, Sundberg, 2014). Na temelju rezultata dobivenih procjenom izradila sam strukturirani individualizirani program za dječaka kako bi se poticao razvoj vještina. Program se provodio u Kabinetu za poremećaje iz spektra autizma u Centru za rehabilitaciju ERF-a, te u domu dječaka. Program je proveden u periodu od pet mjeseci. Od ožujka do srpnja 2019. godine. Analizirajući rezultate VB-MAPP-a primjećuju se promijene u dva područja, a to su zahtijevanje i slušno odgovaranje. Sva ostala područja ostala su nepromijenjena nakon provedbe programa. Uspoređujući rezultate inicijalne i finalne procjene ADOS mjernim instrumentom mogu se primijetiti razlike u dobivenim rezultatima. Razlike su vidljive u svim područjima (komunikacijske vještine, socijalna interakcija, igra, adaptivno ponašanje). Iz rezultata je vidljivo da je dječak usvojio vještine na svim područjima. . Najznačajnije promjene, vidljive na oba mjerna instrumenta su na području zahtijevanja. A ako uzmemo u obzir da je zahtijevanje (mand) jedna je od temeljnih jedinica verbalnog ponašanja (Brady, Saunders i Spradlin, 1994 prema Vukasn, Stošić, 2018), onda možemo reći da je ovaj program bio učinkovit.The goal of this paper (work) was to evaluate the effect of the implementation of individualized programs on the development of children with ASD. The participant was a boy G. R. with ASD in obs, at the age of 31 months. To evaluate the boys abilities the 2nd edition Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule was used as well as the Behavior Milestones Assesment and Placement Program. On the basis of the aquired results I have developed a structured individualized program for the boy in order to help further his abilities. The program was implemented within the Cabinet for ASD inside the Center for Rehabilitation at the faculty for Education and Rehabilitation as well as the boys home. It spanned for a duration of 5 months; from the months of March through July 2019. Analyzing the results of VB-MAPP a change can be detected in two categories, those being the field of mand and listener responding. All other categories remained unchanged after the implementation of the program. Comparing the results of the initial and final analysis using the ADOS measuring instrument a trend of change can be noticed in the results. Differences are visible in all areas (communication abilities, social interaction, play, and adaptive behavior). From the results it can be seen that the boy has adopted abilities in all areas. The biggest changes, visible on both measuring instruments, are in the areas of mand. If we take into account that (mand) is one of the basic elements of verbal behaviors we can say the program was effective