How Discrete Trial Training, or DTT, Helps Your Child in ABA Therapy

What Is Discrete Trial Training?

Discrete trial training (DTT) is a structured method designed to teach specific skills in a highly controlled and systematic way. It breaks larger tasks into smaller, manageable components. DTT uses three main parts: prompting, monitoring the response of your child, and reinforcing or gently correcting after we observe the response. 

Discrete trials are one component of a tailored, customized therapy plan we’ll develop for your child based on their assessment. Every child we see is unique, and there is never a cookie-cutter approach to how we manage therapy sessions while helping your child grow.

Structured Teaching Method

Each trial follows a predictable sequence for consistency. What does change are the scenarios in which teaching can happen, which typically revolve around play based on your child’s age and maturity level. There are limitless possibilities for creativity, from building things out of blocks and drawing to blowing bubbles and cooking food. We’ll take your child’s interests and abilities into account when designing discrete trial training.

Three-Step Process

Our ABA behavior technicians begin by giving your child a concise direction, such as, “Point to the red square.” This instruction minimizes confusion and guides the child toward the desired action. The behavior technician then waits for the child’s response.

When your child responds correctly, the behavior technician delivers immediate reinforcement to encourage repetition of the correct behavior. Positive reinforcement might include verbal praise, tokens that can be spent on a reward later, or moving to a favorite activity. 

For incorrect responses, the behavior technician offers supportive guidance, often through prompting, to lead your child toward success. The cycle of reinforcement or correction repeats itself until the desired behavior happens.

What Are the Next Steps?

Our behavior technicians monitor the progress of your child through data collection, which allows us to adjust the teaching approach as needed. For example, let’s say your child loves dinosaurs. An activity can include digging for dinosaur bones out of a small sandbox at our therapy center. However, the behavior technician notices that your child loves playing with a stuffed dog instead. The discrete trial can move to an activity that revolves around the stuffed dog rather than dinosaurs.

Consistent tracking allows your youngster’s behavior technician to identify patterns, measure improvement, and determine when to reduce prompting. As a data-driven strategy, your child will receive a personalized experience tailored to their strengths to get the most out of each session.

Our overall goal is to help your child gain skills in a controlled setting using play therapy and fun activities as a foundation. Over time, children apply these learned skills to other parts of their lives, promoting independence and adaptability. 

Behavior Analysis

Behavior analysis guides the process of discrete trial training. Your child’s behavior technician will identify patterns, understand responses, and shape behavior based on what they see. Observable actions, their outcomes, and adaptation are the cornerstones of behavior analysis.

Feedback Loop

We’ll begin by defining specific goals for your child broken down into measurable and achievable goals. Through careful observation, your child’s behavior technician can identify behaviors that require reinforcement, redirection, or correction. 

For example, if a young child struggles to follow a simple instruction like “clap hands,” the behavior technician breaks the task into manageable steps like putting one hand next to the other, putting them apart, and then moving them together.

In each trial, the behavior technician delivers clear instructions, observes your kiddo’s response, and immediately applies reinforcement or correction. This feedback loop enables your child to associate certain behaviors with desired outcomes.

Moving Forward

Detailed data on every trial allows us to track your child’s responses over time. This information tracks progress, identifies challenges, and identifies ways forward. Your child’s behavior technician will learn when to reduce prompts, increase the difficulty of tasks, and introduce new skills based on your child’s unique personality.

Prompting

Scientifically called presenting a stimulus, prompts serve as temporary aids that help your child learn new skills and grow. Our behavior technicians introduce prompts to support your child when completing tasks or responding correctly. 

For example, when teaching a child to identify colors, the behavior technician might point to the correct option or physically guide the child’s hand. These prompts bridge the gap between instruction and independent action while helping your kiddo grow to independence.

Types of Prompts

Different types of prompts, such as verbal, visual, physical, or gestural cues, suit various learning needs. A verbal prompt might involve repeating the instruction or offering additional clarification. Meanwhile, a visual prompt could include showing a picture. Therapists choose the least intrusive prompt that achieves the desired outcome, allowing your child to independently take action at some point.

Fading

Through a process called fading, behavior technicians systematically reduce the level of prompting as your youngster moves toward mastery. This approach prevents over-reliance on external support and moving toward independence. For instance, after initially guiding your child’s hand, our behavior technician might shift to pointing, then simply providing verbal encouragement before seeing your child respond without help.

Careful data collection during each trial lets us analyze your kiddo’s responses to determine when to introduce or reduce assistance.

Watching Your Child’s Responses

Close observation allows your child’s behavior technician to identify patterns, assess learning, and determine the next steps in the process. We tailor everything to your child’s unique needs.

Goals

The goal of watching your child’s responses to a given instruction is to evaluate their level of mastery of certain tasks. For example, our behavior technician might ask your child to “clap hands.” The behavior technician observes whether the child responds immediately, hesitates, or needs additional assistance. Our behavior technician can determine your child’s current skill level and guide the next steps of reinforcement or correction.

Engagement Level

Gauging responses offers clues about your child’s engagement and motivation. Positive, enthusiastic responses usually mean high interest in a task, while hesitation or avoidance might suggest the need for another tactic. We can fine-tune strategies based on your child’s interest level from prompt to prompt to keep them motivated and focused.

For example, if a child consistently performs a task correctly, our behavior technician might increase the difficulty of a task or see if your kiddo can complete a task on their own. Conversely, repeated errors might show the need for additional support or a simplified way to complete the task. 

Providing Reinforcement or Correction

Think of teaching your child as a continuous loop. Reinforcement or correction guides your child toward desired behaviors and learning new skills. The goal is to use immediate, consistent feedback based on how your child responds to prompts.

Reinforcement

Reinforcement strengthens your child’s behavior. Reinforcement might include praise, tangible rewards, or changing to your kiddo’s favorite activity. For instance, after the learner identifies the correct color, the behavior technician might say, “Great job!” and offer a sticker or a brief play break. We believe that positive feedback increases the likelihood of learning and developing new skills.

Correction

If your child provides an incorrect response or does not respond to a prompt, our behavior technician gently corrects them and guides them to a successful outcome. We might use one of several prompts, such as a verbal hint, gestural cue, or physical assistance, to demonstrate the desired behavior. For example, if your kiddo struggles to place a block in a building, the behavior technician might gently guide their hand while stating the instruction again. The goal is to maintain a supportive environment while addressing errors constructively.

Balancing Both

Behavior technicians carefully balance reinforcement and correction to ensure your child succeeds while gradually increasing independence. Our behavior technicians reinforce or correct behaviors immediately to create clear connections between actions and consequences, giving your kiddo a sense of expectations and learning.

Implementing Discrete Trial Training at Home

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in reinforcing what children learn during therapy sessions at My World ABA. With the right preparation and consistency, families can successfully integrate DTT into daily routines, which helps a child with autism progress in communication, social interaction, and other areas.

Preparing the Environment

Set aside a structured learning space free from distractions in your house. Consider your child’s bedroom, the dining room table, or a quiet den. Gather necessary materials, such as flashcards, toys, or other teaching tools. For example, if your child is learning to identify shapes, set up colored blocks that help your child build a structure. Choosing blocks to put together a building can help your child identify shapes, sizes, and colors as you both move toward a taller or wider structure.

Consistency Is the Key

During each trial, follow a consistent sequence of instructions, watching your child’s response and reinforcement or correction. For instance, you might say, “Pick up the yellow block,” wait for the child’s action, and offer enthusiastic praise or a preferred item for a correct response. Consider other prompts as a way to correct your kiddo if needed. Track progress as you keep notes on your child’s progress. Make sure to keep things going in a familiar setting to reinforce your child’s learning.  

Benefits of Discrete Trial Training

The benefits of discrete trial training are numerous. 

• Consistency
• Individualized program
• Improved self-esteem
• Better learning outcomes
• Sets the stage for more complex learning later in life
• Immediate feedback addresses issues quickly 
• Generalized skills foster problem-solving in other areas of life

Addressing Challenges of Discrete Trial Training

DTT has enormous benefits as part of a larger ABA therapy program. However, there are challenges that our behavior technicians may face or you may experience when implementing discrete trial training at home. Addressing these challenges promptly can help avoid larger problems later on.

Your Child Resists Learning

If your child seems uninterested in learning, you might have to change tactics. Offer highly preferred reinforcers, such as your child’s favorite toy, a hug, high-five, sticker, or a few minutes of playtime. Incorporate breaks if your child seems uninterested, or vary the activities you do to alleviate boredom and frustration. For example, pairing a less preferred task with a favorite toy or activity can encourage participation and create a positive association with learning.

Tasks Are Too Specialized

Some skills learned in structured settings may not transfer to other areas of your child’s life. So, think about lessons that can work for more than just playtime contexts. We can gradually transition learned behaviors into real-life scenarios. For instance, a child who practices identifying objects during therapy sessions might practice the same skill during playtime or at the grocery store. Involving family members in these sessions ensures consistency across environments.

Caregiver Fatigue

Caregiver fatigue can set in when things feel overwhelming or goals seem far away. Establish realistic goals and schedules, balancing practice with other daily responsibilities. Self-care is very important when helping your child grow. Having a professional ABA behavior technician can help mitigate caregiver burnout. Make sure to take time for yourself, such as after everyone’s asleep or when your kids are at school. 

Help Your Child With Autism to Grow

At My World ABA, we want your child to grow to independence. To learn more about our services or answer additional questions, contact us through our website or call (417) 818-5784 today. 

We have offices in Springfield, Ozark, and Joplin, Missouri.