Generalized Use of a Self-Operated Audio Prompt System

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of a self-operated auditory prompting system in facilitating the generalization of domestic skills by adolescents with moderate and severe mental handicaps and in increasing the probability of long-term maintenance of the skills and of problem-solving behaviors. Four students successfully used the system in learning a task in one setting and then generalized use of the prompting system to another setting. Each student next used the audio prompts in learning a motorically similar task in the original setting. Task performance was maintained at a 100% level for up to four weeks. Self-evaluation questions throughout the scripted instructions on the audiotape assisted the students in developing self-monitoring and self-correction skills.