Draft:Early Echoic Skills Assessment

Early Echoic Skills Assessment and Program Planner
File:ESSAPP.webp
Synonyms	EESAPP
Purpose	Assess the early echoic skills of children with autism
Based on	Verbal Behavior

The Early Echoic Skills Assessment and Program Planner (EESAPP) is an assessment and skills-tracking system designed to evaluate the early echoic or vocal imitation skills of children with autism or other developmental disabilities. Developed by Dr. Barbara Esch, the EESAPP helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses in a child's ability to imitate speech sounds and provides a framework for planning individualized intervention programs.

Development

The EESAPP is based on the principles of Verbal Behavior analysis, specifically focusing on echoic behavior as described by B.F. Skinner. The assessment was created by and Dr. Barbara Esch, a speech and language pathologist with expertise in both speech pathology and applied behavior analysis (ABA). Notably, Dr. Esch also contributed to the development of the Early Echoic Skills Assessment (EESA), which is incorporated into the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) to evaluate the early vocal imitation skills of children. The VB-MAPP uses the EESA to assess echoic behavior as part of its broader evaluation of language and social skills in children with autism and other developmental disabilities

Usage

The EESAPP is primarily used by behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists, and special educators to assess and develop echoic skills in children with autism and other developmental disabilities. It is designed to be used by professionals trained in ABA and verbal behavior analysis to guide intervention planning, track skill acquisition, and provide feedback to parents and other caregivers.

Features

The EESAPP includes a detailed scoring protocol and a comprehensive user guide. The main components of the EESAPP are:

• **Early Echoic Skills Assessment**: Evaluates the child's ability to imitate speech sounds and sequences of sounds.
• **Program Planner**: Provides a framework for developing individualized intervention programs based on the assessment results.
• **Scoring Criteria**: Offers detailed guidelines for scoring the child's performance on various echoic tasks.

The assessment is structured to evaluate echoic skills at different developmental levels, ensuring that it can be tailored to the needs of each individual child.

Measurement criteria

The EESAPP uses objective measurement criteria to assess the child's echoic abilities, making it an effective tool for both clinical practice and research. The assessment results are used to inform the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at improving the child's vocal imitation skills.

Comparison to other assessments

The EESAPP is unique in its specific focus on echoic behavior, setting it apart from other speech and language assessments that may not address the functional analysis of vocal imitation. Studies have shown that traditional assessments often lack measures for evaluating the functional use of speech sounds, whereas the EESAPP provides a comprehensive analysis of a child's echoic skills.

Use in research

The EESAPP has been utilized in various research studies to measure the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving echoic skills in children with autism. These studies have been published in journals such as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, demonstrating the assessment's reliability and validity in both clinical and research settings.

External links

• Association for Behavioral Analysis International
• Archive of the Analysis of Verbal Behavior Journal
• Association for Science in Autism Treatment
• Autism Resource- Glossary of Terms
• Behavior Analyst Certification Board
• B.F. Skinner Foundation
• Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
• Behavior Analysis Center for Autism
• Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group
• The Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis
• Verbal Behavior Special Interest Group