This study assessed the differential effectiveness of two types of response delay on correct responding with communicative gestures to training instructions. Three individuals at a severe level of mental handicap participated. A mixed design of withdrawal and alternating treatments was used to collect data. The results show that response delay was effective in increasing the number of correct responses in two of the three individuals. Also, a type of response delay in which the instruction was repeated immediately preceding release of the individual's hands was more effective than if repetition of the instruction was not used.
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