5005V - A Hybrid Treatment Approach for Minimally Verbal Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This presentation describes the assessment and treatment of minimally verbal children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clinical practices resulting in a progression from zero words to consistent verbal approximations across sounds and words within one year will be discussed. A dual approach integrating augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and a systematic, verbal elicitation hierarchy will be outlined. Evidence for this dual, multimodal approach to intervention as well as clinical outcomes and lessons learned will be explored.