The purpose of present study was to compare Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), and the integrated (ABA and PRT) method on the vocabulary span of children with autism spectrom disorder. Method: Using multistage random sampling method, thirty children aged four to six (13 girls and 17 boys) were selected from two autism training centers in tehran. The subjects were randomly divided in three Integrated, ABA, and PRT treatment groups. Research method was semi-experimental with expanded pre-test, post-test group design. To screen the subjects, Giliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) and a vocabulary assessment checklist were used. All experimental groups recieved their own specific programs for 16 sessions (eight weeks), each session 90 minutes long.Results: kruskal Wallis analysis indicated that there was a significant difference (x2=60/8) among all three experimental groups. The result showed that the integrated method was more effective than the two other ones. Conclusion: This study shows that integration of ABA and PRT is more effective for vocabulary development of four to six year-old children with autism spectrom disorder.
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, Applied behavior analysis, Pivotal response treatment, Vocabulary span
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1. Corresponding Author: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch
2. PhD Student in Psychology and Education of Children with Special Needs, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch