Autism Intervention Using the PRT Approach

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is one of the most extensively researched autism intervention approaches. It was developed in the 1980s and continues to be studied and developed today at the Koegel Autism Center at Stanford University.

Who is PRT suitable for?

PRT is suitable for children from infancy, beginning with the acquisition of basic developmental skills such as first words, and can also be applied at older ages, for example in preparation for job interviews.

What are the key principles of PRT?

The child’s motivation is combined with clear and measurable learning principles. In every skill-learning process, the guiding principle is to maintain the child’s enjoyment and joy in the interaction.

The goal is to teach the child that communication is enjoyable, and by doing so, encourage them to practice and improve within a structured therapeutic program.

What is the innovation of PRT?

The main breakthrough introduced by this approach was the identification of several pivotal skills, from which the method gets its name.

When these pivotal skills are taught, an important developmental effect known as collateral learning can occur. This means that the child may acquire additional important skills without each one needing to be taught directly.

The result is much faster learning of important skills and a reduction of developmental gaps compared to peers.

Today, there is research evidence supporting five pivotal skills that are taught to children:

• Motivation

• Social initiations

• Responding to multiple cues

• Socialization

• Self-management

  
  

The Koegel Center reports that, according to the data available to them:

95% of children who received PRT-based intervention before the age of 3 were able to speak.

80% of children who received PRT between the ages of 3 and 5 were able to speak.

20% of children over the age of 5 who received PRT were able to speak.

This provides further evidence for the importance of early intervention and the value of choosing a therapeutic approach that is well suited to the child.

More information about PRT can be found at the link.

At Bishvil HaKochav Center, individual autism intervention is provided using some of the most advanced and extensively researched therapeutic approaches in the scientific field.

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