Abstract
The Impact of an Applied Behavioral Analysis-Based Training Program on the Development of Communicative Skills among Children with Autism Disorder
Author(s): Yaser Numan Al Sabi*This study aimed to identify the effect of a training program based on the method of applied behavioral analysis in developing communicative skills among children with autism spectrum disorders in Jeddah. The sample consisted of 20 children with autism spectrum disorder, and their ages ranged from 5 years - 10 years old. The sample was divided into an experimental group consisting of 10 children, 5 females and 5 males, and a control group consisting of the same number and order. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers developed two instruments, whose validity and reliability was verified. The first was a training program based on applied behavior analysis, and the second was a specialized scale to measure the communicative skills of children with autism spectrum disorders. The results of the study indicated statistically significant differences in the development of communicative skills between the children of the experimental group. Based on the results of the study, the researchers recommended the need to focus on applied behavioral analysis as a systematic training method for acquiring communication skills for children with autism disorders.