The implementation of functional communication training of the problematic behaviour treatment in persons with autism

Abstract

Difficulties in communication and aggressive behavior, which includes self-injury as well, represent one of the biggest obstacles not only for parents, but also for the professionals who are involved in the education of persons with autism and other developmental disabilities. The implementation of Functional Communication Training (FCT) is, at the same time, directed to both of these problems: the communication quality improvement and the reduction of the level of problematic behavior. By making a survey of relevant researches, we made an attempt to synthesize the data on the implementation of FCT in the problematic behavior treatment in persons with autism. In addition to the established generalization boundaries and the duration of FCT effects, it remains one of the very efficient models, with the potential for further improvement by using numerous variations in the process of influencing the causes and consequences of the aggressive behavior of persons with autism.

Teškoće u komunikaciji i agresivno ponašanje u koje spada i samopovređivanje predstavljaju jednu od najvećih prepreka za roditelje, ali i stručnjake koji se bave vaspitanjem i obrazovanjem osoba sa autizmom i drugim razvojnim poremećajima. Primena Funkcionalnog komunikacionog treninga (FCT) je istovremeno usmerena na oba navedena problema: na poboljšanje kvaliteta komunikacije i na snižavanje nivoa problematičnog ponašanja. Pregledom relevantnih istraživanja nastojali smo da napravimo sintezu podataka o primeni FCT-a u tretmanu problematičnog ponašanja kod osoba sa autizmom. Pored utvrđenih ograničenja u generalizaciji i trajanju efekata FCT-a, on ostaje jedan od veoma efikasnih modela, sa potencijalom za dalje usavršavanje kroz upotrebu različitih varijacija u delovanju na uzroke i posledice agresivnog ponašanja osoba sa autizmom.