title: Comparing acquisition of and preference for manual signs, picture exchange, and speech-generating devices in nine children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare how quickly children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) acquired manual signs, picture exchange, and an iPad/iPod-based speech-generating device (SGD) and to compare if children showed a preference for one of these options.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine children with ASD and limited communication skills received intervention to teach requesting preferred stimuli using manual signs, picture exchange, and a SGD. Intervention was evaluated in a non-concurrent multiple-baseline across participants and alternating treatments design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five children learned all three systems to criterion. Four children required fewer sessions to learn the SGD compared to manual signs and picture exchange. Eight children demonstrated a preference for the SGD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support previous studies that demonstrate children with ASD can learn manual signs, picture exchange, and an iPad/iPod-based SGD to request preferred stimuli. Most children showed a preference for the SGD. For some children, acquisition may be quicker when learning a preferred option.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, College of Education, University of Canterbury , Christchurch , New Zealand .
authors.forename: Llyween
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Couper
authors.forename: Larah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Martina C M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McLay
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Marschik
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sutherland
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D013060:Speech