Functional Communication Training (FCT) in ABA Therapy

Many children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle with communication. Luckily, applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) can help children on the autism spectrum gain the communication skills they need to live happy and independent lives.

Widely regarded as the leading treatment plan for children with autism, ABA therapy is based on scientific evidence and approaches learning and behavior in unique ways. Using positive reinforcement and repetition, therapists help children with ASD build skills over time.

ABA therapy is very flexible and can be personalized to each individual patient via multiple strategies. One such strategy that’s specifically designed to address communication challenges is known as Functional Communication Training, or FCT.

This strategy teaches functional and meaningful communication to children in a very natural way, helping them to build their communication skills so they can express what they need, want and/or are feeling.

Below, we’ll discuss FCT in more detail to show how it works.

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What is Functional Communication Training?

Functional Communication Training is just one of the many strategies that ABA therapists can use to help children with autism build communication skills. It focuses specifically on problem behaviors that children exhibit and helps them to build their communication abilities, which in turn can reduce these behaviors such as outbursts or tantrums.

At the core of FCT is the understanding that behavior is a communication form in itself. All behaviors that a child exhibits — whether negative ones such as a meltdown or positive ones such as a smile — is done to convey an underlying emotion, desire or need.

Children with autism often struggle communicating in words how they feel, what they want or need. Instead, they express these things through their behaviors.

If a child on the autism spectrum is having trouble communicating that they are feeling overwhelmed in a large crowd, for instance, they might have a meltdown or throw a tantrum.

FCT recognizes that such a behavior is just a communication form, although one that needs to be replaced with something that’s more acceptable. In this way, ABA therapists will seek to help children build their communication skills so that they replace disruptive and/or damaging behaviors with positive and helpful ones.

How is FCT Carried Out?

The first step in FCT is what’s called an FBA, or functional behavior assessment. Through this process, the therapist will evaluate your child so they can better understand why they may be exhibiting certain behaviors.

The goal is to get to the root cause, or function, of the disruptive behavior so that a replacement behavior can be taught.

Then, a three-step process known as function, form and effort is carried out.

Function includes getting to that root cause of the behavior. Form includes how the child tries to communicate through the behavior, such as sign language or verbal means. Effort is the process by which the negative behavior is replaced with one that communicates effectively.

After the root cause of the behavior is identified, a replacement behavior will be chosen that can be used to communicate the same message, but in a more helpful, impactful and acceptable way. It’s also important at this stage that the therapist engages parents, caregivers and others who interact with the child so that they also understand why the child is exhibiting the behavior and how to help them with the replacement.

As with other ABA therapy strategies, FCT will incorporate positive reinforcement to teach the replacement behaviors.

When the child successfully exhibits positive behavior, they may get extra time with a toy they love, for instance. At the same time, if the child exhibits the disruptive behavior, the therapist may ignore it altogether so they don’t reinforce it.

What Benefits Does FCT Provide?

Functional Communication Training has been proven to not only help children with autism overcome communication problems. It also helps them build social, play and behavior skills while readying them for a structured school environment.

By equipping children with ASD with the tools they need to replace disruptive behaviors with positive ones, FCT in turn helps to limit tantrums, aggression and any other negative behavior that might be interfering with their daily life.

The great part about FCT is that the behaviors that the children learn through it can easily be used by the child’s parents, teachers, caregivers and others in their lives. This helps to reinforce the skills that are taught so that they carry over into real-world situations for the long term.

Blue Gems ABA Uses Many Strategies to Support Children with ASD

Functional Communication Training is a core strategy in ABA therapy that helps children with ASD replace negative behaviors with ones that are more socially acceptable and helpful. It’s a practical way of helping patients communicate in more effective ways.

At Blue Gems ABA, we use FCT and many other strategies to help children with autism build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle. In doing so, we help them live more happy, healthy and independent lives.

To learn more, please contact us today.