Differentiated Sources of Control over the Verbal Behavior of Individuals with Autism

The most effective treatments for autism spectrum disorder have generally focused on single-subject data to personalize behavior-analytic intervention at the individual level. Though interventions based on applied behavior analysis have been effective for treating the core deficits of autism, the lack of large-scale data analysis has prohibited the use of precision medicine for identifying subtypes of responders within this population. Language deficits are characteristic of an autism diagnosis, particularly for those more profoundly affected by the disorder, who may not develop functional communication despite early intervention. Yet language development is often described as a progression through stages that may not accurately describe the manner in which individuals with autism acquire language skills. In the current study, we use binomial logistic regression to examine the statistically significant predictors of exteroceptive control over verbal behavior. Using a common curriculum-based assessment of verbal behavior, we examined the intake scores of 118 children with autism who received early intensive behavioral intervention. Results show that an individual’s ability to mand reliability predicts their ability to tact, but no statistically significant variables were related to mand control. We discuss our findings within the context of intervention for individuals with autism whose verbal behavior is under differentiated sources of control.