On the use of fluency training in the behavioral treatment of autism: a commentary

Behav Anal. 2010 Fall;33(2):223-9. doi: 10.1007/BF03392221.

Abstract

The substantial demand for behavior-analytic treatment of early childhood autism has been associated with rapid dissemination of treatment procedures to practitioners and caregivers. This level of demand could plausibly induce premature dissemination of treatments that do not yet have sufficient empirical support. We argue that this might have happened with the use of fluency training for learners with autism and identify four areas of research that are necessary to ensure that dissemination efforts are better matched to the available empirical support for this instructional strategy.

Keywords: autism; behavioral fluency; behavioral treatment; fluency training; precision teaching; rate building.