Speak Up: Increasing Conversational Volume in a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Deficits in social interactions are a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder. This study examined one relatively uncommon aspect of social interactions that has not received much attention from the literature: appropriate conversational volume. Conversational speech volume was measured using a commercially available application, and a package intervention was developed that consisted of feedback from the voice measuring application, signaling from a wrist bracelet, and differential reinforcement. The intervention was evaluated in an ABAB design and speaking at conversational volume was significantly increased when the intervention was in place and in probe conditions.

Experimental analysis of voice volume for children with autism spectrum disorder

“…Edgerton and Wine (2017) and Campbell et al. (2021) implemented interventions for shaping conversational speech volume for participants diagnosed with ASD.…”

“…In both studies, responses were measured using a smartphone voice meter application that provided visual feedback on the voice volume of vocal responses (e.g., speaking too loudly or quietly). By differentially reinforcing appropriate volume in conjunction with this visual feedback, the researchers increased the conversational volume (Edgerton & Wine, 2017) and decreased loud vocalizations (Campbell et al., 2021). Edgerton and Wine measured voice level across trials using the Voice Meter Pro app (EdTech Monster Unlimited, 2013).…”

“…A few studies have used electronic devices to record acoustic measures to treat problematic prosodic production, such as pitch recording (Diehl & Paul, 2013) and voice volume regulation (Campbell et al, 2021;Edgerton & Wine, 2017;Fleece et al, 1981;Koegel & Frea, 1993). Fleece et al (1981) assessed the efficacy of an operant shaping procedure to increase voice volume.…”

“…By reinforcing successively louder responses, voice volume levels generalized to the children's classroom and voice persisted at appropriate volume at the 1-and 4-month follow-up sessions. Edgerton and Wine (2017) and Campbell et al (2021) implemented interventions for shaping conversational speech volume for participants diagnosed with ASD. In both studies, responses were measured using a smartphone voice meter application that provided visual feedback on the voice volume of vocal responses (e.g., speaking too loudly or quietly).…”

“…In both studies, responses were measured using a smartphone voice meter application that provided visual feedback on the voice volume of vocal responses (e.g., speaking too loudly or quietly). By differentially reinforcing appropriate volume in conjunction with this visual feedback, the researchers increased the conversational volume (Edgerton & Wine, 2017) and decreased loud vocalizations (Campbell et al, 2021) The purpose of the current study was to conduct a FA of speech with inappropriate voice volume (i.e., speaking too loudly) in participants diagnosed with ASD. Another goal of the current study was to expand on previous literature (i.e., Campbell et al, 2021;Edgerton & Wine, 2017), utilizing novel technological approaches to measuring and recording (i.e., smartphone application) in conjunction with a function-based intervention to decrease loud voice volume responses (L-VVR) and to increase appropriate voice volume responses (VVRs).…”