A Systematic Review of Functional Communication Training (FCT) Interventions Involving Augmentative and Alternative Communication in School Settings
Augmentative & Alternative Communication
Walker, V. L., Lyon, K. J., et al. (2018).
Augmentative & Alternative Communication, 34(2), 118-129.
This systematic review investigates the effects of functional communication training (FCT) using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) on behaviors in students with disabilities.
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Single-case intervention studies
17
<div>Functional communication training (FCT) combined with AAC improved aided and unaided AAC use and decreased challenging behaviors (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property damage) across school settings in students with disabilities. The following moderating variables showed statistically significant differences:</div>
<ul>
<li>Gender differences revealed that female students showed greater effect from FCT intervention (M = 0.98) than male students (M = 0.84).</li>
<li>Students who demonstrated distracting levels of behaviors showed statistically significant beneficial differences (M = 0.97) compared to students who demonstrated challenging behaviors (M = 0.79).</li>
<li>When a descriptive functional behavior analysis (FBA) tool was used prior to FCT intervention, the student showed greater improvements (M = 0.96) than when an experimental FBA tool (M = 0.77) was used prior to FCT.</li>
<li>FCT used with AAC in an inclusive school settings demonstrated greater effect (M = 0.96) on aided and unaided AAC use in students as compared to FCT used with AAC in a non-inclusive school setting.</li>
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