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

<p>"Overall, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that [functional communication training] FCT involving [augmentative and alternative communication] AAC contributed to improved aided or unaided AAC use and reduced challenging behaviour for students with disability across school settings" (p. 126). Statistically significant differences were found for the following moderating variables:</p><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></ul>