Re: Very prompt dependent since May

[Guest guest]

Jane, Karac had a period of being very prompt dependent, and I think it

was from the school. We just tried to back off prompting him so much

ourselves. Sometimes it is just hard. Pat K

Very prompt dependent since May

Hello,

 

I was wondering how I can get my son " out " of his rut in prompt

dependency.  I'm thinking it's due to onset of puberty slowing him down

and a lack of motivation in knowing what it is he wants...no strong

conviction.  I don't know if a neuropsych evaluation would help

determine the cause of this prompt dependency...It is very pervasive in

all areas of functioning.  Could it be lack of confidence for my

pdd-nos boy?  Thanks for your input...you can email me privately if you

want.

 

Thanks,

Jane

[Guest guest]

Prompt dependency is a problem that is created by those giving the instructions

and not the child. What I mean is that people need to know how to use the least

intrusive prompts and reduce them as quickly as possible. In general, kids that

are prompt dependent are those that have been taught that they will always get

help if they wait.

His team should be able to retrain him by changing his reinforcement schedule.

I'm assuming that he is getting reinforced for prompted trials. If this is the

case, you start reinforcing unprompted trials even if they are wrong and giving

him feedback like " awesome you tried!! "

As he starts getting this, when you know he has the skill, wait him out.

Encourage him.

Then later change the reinforcement schedule to something more reasonable like

thoughtful good answers and correct answers.... not wild guesses, etc.

In general, prompted trials normally get little reinforcement. Sometimes when a

child is not being successful (like when starting a new program), you reinforce

prompted trials. But as a rule, you should fade reinforcing prompted trials

ASAP. And you should reduce prompts ASAP.

Jill

>

>

> Hello,

>

> I was wondering how I can get my son " out " of his rut in prompt dependency.

I'm thinking it's due to onset of puberty slowing him down and a lack of

motivation in knowing what it is he wants...no strong conviction. I don't know

if a neuropsych evaluation would help determine the cause of this prompt

dependency...It is very pervasive in all areas of functioning. Could it be lack

of confidence for my pdd-nos boy? Thanks for your input...you can email me

privately if you want.

>

> Thanks,

> Jane

>

[Guest guest]

Prompt dependency is a problem that is created by those giving the instructions

and not the child. What I mean is that people need to know how to use the least

intrusive prompts and reduce them as quickly as possible. In general, kids that

are prompt dependent are those that have been taught that they will always get

help if they wait.

His team should be able to retrain him by changing his reinforcement schedule.

I'm assuming that he is getting reinforced for prompted trials. If this is the

case, you start reinforcing unprompted trials even if they are wrong and giving

him feedback like " awesome you tried!! "

As he starts getting this, when you know he has the skill, wait him out.

Encourage him.

Then later change the reinforcement schedule to something more reasonable like

thoughtful good answers and correct answers.... not wild guesses, etc.

In general, prompted trials normally get little reinforcement. Sometimes when a

child is not being successful (like when starting a new program), you reinforce

prompted trials. But as a rule, you should fade reinforcing prompted trials

ASAP. And you should reduce prompts ASAP.

Jill

>

>

> Hello,

>

> I was wondering how I can get my son " out " of his rut in prompt dependency.

I'm thinking it's due to onset of puberty slowing him down and a lack of

motivation in knowing what it is he wants...no strong conviction. I don't know

if a neuropsych evaluation would help determine the cause of this prompt

dependency...It is very pervasive in all areas of functioning. Could it be lack

of confidence for my pdd-nos boy? Thanks for your input...you can email me

privately if you want.

>

> Thanks,

> Jane

>