Presentation of Findings (Highlighted for Connor)

Results indicated that Connor displayed incremental improvement in the acquisition of targeted skill areas depending on length of time exposed to DTT intervention, age, and ability level.  

*Important note: The acronym “STO” was incorporated into the research data. STO represents short-term objectives. Since DTT incorporates breaking down skills into smaller, teachable parts, the early intervention program breaks down each skill into several objectives that can be accomplished in a shorter timespan.

The specific skills Connor was taught during the intervention included imitation with an object, matching object to object, gross motor imitation, and the identification of body parts.   

Imitation with an Object

      Connor was not able to correctly imitate any actions using objects before the intervention began (Table 1). After DTT intervention began, Connor was able to accurately imitate all actions using objects by Week 21. By Week 21, Connor was able to achieve all six STOs for the skill (Figure 1). The data included in Figure 1 also indicates that, over the span of 21 weeks, Connor was able to achieve each STO (1-6) in a shorter period of time, throughout the time of intervention. Specifically, STOs were mastered by Week 3, Week 8, Week 9, Week 15, Week 18, and Week 21 (Figure 1).
      Connor mostly needed physical prompts (the most assistance) to perform the skill when the skill was first introduced (Table 1a). Over time, he required less assistance performing the skill and moved to partial physical, gestural, and positional prompts. Connor was then able to achieve independent responses when performing the skill, indicating progress and mastery was achieved over time. It is important to note that, along with mastery of a skill, maintenance of the skill is equally significant. During intervention, maintenance of previously learned STOs was incorporated throughout weekly sessions and throughout intervention. After Connor mastered all six STOs, STO 1-STO 6 were checked for maintenance as a whole (in Week 21). Maintenance was achieved for all STOs previously learned.

Table 1

Baseline Data for all skills: Connor

Skill	Student Response	Percent Accuracy
Imitation with an Object	0/5	0%
Matching Object to Object	0/5	0%
Gross Motor Imitation	0/5	0%
Identification of Body Parts	0/5	0%

Figure 1. Connor's accuracy of imitating using objects over 21 weeks. The red data points and the black, dashed vertical lines (following the red data points) indicate mastery of specific short-term objectives.

Table 1a

Prompting Data: Imitation with an Object (Connor)

Short-Term Objective (STO)	Prompting
STO 1: imitate by putting a block in a cup	STO 1: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent
STO 2: imitate by banging a hammer	STO 2: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent
STO 3: imitate by putting a block in a cup and banging a hammer (STO 1+ STO2)	STO 3: Partial Physicalà Independent
STO 4: imitate by shaking a rattle	STO 4: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent
STO 5: imitate by stacking two blocks	STO 5: Physicalà Partial Physicalà                         Positionalà Independent
STO 6: imitate by pushing a car	STO 6: Physicalà Partial Physicalà                  Gesturalà Independent

Matching Object to Object

      Connor was not able to correctly match any objects to their identical objects before the intervention began (Table 1). After DTT intervention began, Connor was able to accurately match several objects by Week 15. By Week 15, Connor was able to achieve the first four STOs for the skill as well as begin to make progress with the fifth STO (Figure 2). The data included in Figure 2 also indicates that, over the span of 15 weeks, Connor was able to achieve some STOs within a shorter period of time, throughout the time of intervention. Specifically, STOs were mastered by Week 2, Week 3, Week 7, and Week 10 (Figure 2).
      Connor mostly needed physical prompts to perform the skill when the skill was first introduced (Table 1b). For STOs, he required less assistance over time when performing the skill. Partial physical prompts and gestural prompts were also used when practicing this skill, which indicates that Connor slowly became more independent. For STO 2, no prompting was needed, and Connor was immediately able to achieve this objective. Connor was also able to achieve independent responses when performing the skill, indicating progress was achieved over time. It is important to note that the fifth STO as well as the skill as a whole was not yet mastered. However, maintenance of previously learned STOs was still incorporated throughout weekly sessions and throughout intervention.

Figure 2. Connor’s accuracy of matching identical objects over 15 weeks. The red data points and the black, dashed vertical lines (following the red data points) indicate mastery of specific short-term objectives.

Table 1b

Prompting Data: Matching Object to Object (Connor)

Short-Term Objective (STO)	Prompting
STO 1: match cup to cup	STO 1: Physicalà Independent
STO 2: match bowl to bowl	STO 2: Independent
STO 3: match cup to cup and bowl to bowl (STO 1+ STO 2)	STO 3: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Gesturalà Independent
STO 4: match spoon to spoon	STO 4: Physicalà Independent
STO 5: match cup to cup, bowl to bowl, and spoon to spoon (STO 1+ STO 2+ STO3)	STO 5: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Gesturalà Independent

Gross Motor Imitation

      Connor was not able to correctly imitate any motor actions before the intervention began (Table 1). After DTT intervention began, Connor was able to accurately imitate all motor actions by Week 18. By Week 18, Connor was able to achieve all six STOs for the skill (Figure 3). The data included in Figure 3 also indicates that, over the span of 18 weeks, Connor was able to achieve each STO (1-6) in a shorter period of time, throughout the time of intervention. Specifically, STOs were mastered by Week 3, Week 5, Week 6, Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18 (Figure 3). 
      Connor needed physical prompts (the most assistance) to perform the skill when objectives were first introduced (Table 1c). Over time, he required less assistance performing the skill and moved to partial physical prompts for several STOs. Connor was then able to achieve independent responses when performing the skill, indicating progress and mastery was achieved over time. During intervention, maintenance of previously learned STOs was incorporated throughout weekly sessions and throughout intervention. After Connor mastered all six STOs, STO 1-STO 6 were checked for maintenance as a whole (in Week 18). Maintenance was achieved for all STOs previously learned.

Figure 3. Connor’s accuracy of imitating gross motor actions over 18 weeks. The red data points and the black, dashed vertical lines (following the red data points) indicate mastery of specific short-term objectives.

Table 1c

Prompting Data: Gross Motor Imitation (Connor)

Short-Term Objective (STO)	Prompting
STO 1: imitate by patting a table	STO 1: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent
STO 2: imitate by clapping hands	STO 2: Physicalà Independent
STO 3: imitate by patting a table and clapping hands (STO 1+ STO 2)	STO 3: Physicalà Independent
STO 4: imitate by waving	STO 4: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent
STO 5: imitate by patting chest	STO 5: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent
STO 6: imitate by putting arms up	STO 6: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent

Identification of Body Parts

      Connor was not able to correctly identify any body parts receptively before the intervention began (Table 1). After DTT intervention began, Connor was able to accurately identify his head by Week 6. By Week 6, Connor was able to achieve the first STO for the skill (Figure 4). Connor needed physical prompts to perform the skill when the skill was first introduced (Table 1d). Over time, he required less assistance performing the skill and moved to partial physical prompts. Connor was then able to achieve independent responses when performing the skill, indicating progress and mastery was achieved over time.

Figure 4. Connor’s accuracy of identifying a body part over 6 weeks. The red data point and the black, dashed vertical line (following the red data point) indicate mastery of a specific short-term objective.

Table 1d

Prompting Data: Identification of Body Parts (Connor)

Short-Term Objective (STO)	Prompting
STO 1: receptively identify head	STO 1: Physicalà Partial Physicalà Independent