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Discrete trial training (DTT) is a technique used by practitioners ofapplied behavior analysis (ABA) that was developed byIvar Lovaas at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). DTT uses mass instruction andreinforcers that create clearcontingencies toshape new skills. Often employed as anearly intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for up to 25–40 hours per week forautistic children, the technique relies on the use ofprompts,modeling, andpositive reinforcement strategies to facilitate the child's learning. It previously usedaversives topunish unwanted behaviors. DTT has also been referred to as the "Lovaas/UCLA model",^[1] "rapid motor imitation antecedent",^[2] "listener responding",^[3][4][5] "errorless learning", and "mass trials".^[6]

Discrete trial training (DTT) is a process whereby an activity is divided into smaller distinct sub-tasks and each of these is repeated continuously until a person is proficient. The trainer rewards successful completion and uses errorless correction procedures if there is unsuccessful completion by the subject to condition them into mastering the process. When proficiency is gained in each sub-task, they are re-combined into the whole activity: in this way proficiency at complex activities can be taught.^[7]: 93

The intervention is often used in conjunction with thePicture Exchange Communication System (PECS) as it primes the child for an easy transition between treatment types. The PECS program serves as another common intervention technique used to conform autistic individuals.^{[non-primary source needed][8]} As many as 25% of autistic individuals have no functional speech.^[9] The program teaches spontaneous social communication through symbols or pictures by relying on ABA techniques.^{[page needed][10]} PECS operates on a similar premise to DTT in that it uses systematicchaining to teach the individual to pair the concept of expressive speech with an object. It is structured in a similar fashion to DTT, in that each session begins with a preferred reinforcer survey to ascertain what would most motivate the child and effectively facilitate learning.^[10]

Research shows limited likelihood that DTT is effective in enhancingspoken language,^[11][12][13] academic and adaptive skills,^{[6][14][15][16]} as many studies are of low quality, having small sample sizes and high risk of bias.^[17][18]

A 1965 article inLife magazine entitledScreams, Slaps and Love has had a lasting impact on public attitudes towards Lovaas's therapy. Giving little thought to how their work might be portrayed, Lovaas and parent advocate Bernie Rimland, M.D., were surprised when the magazine article appeared, since it focussed on text and selected images showing the use of aversives, including a close up of a child being slapped. Even after the use of aversives had been largely discontinued, the article continued to have an effect, galvanizing public concerns about behavior modification techniques.^[19][20]

In April 2002 treatment cost in the U.S. was about US$4,200 per month ($50,000 annually) per child.^{[needs update][21]} The 20–40 hours per week intensity of the program, often conducted at home, may place additional stress on already challenged families.^[22]

Discrete trial training is rooted in the hypothesis ofCharles Ferster who theorized that autism was caused in part by a person's inability to react appropriately to "social reinforcers", such as praise or criticism. Lovaas's early work concentrated on showing that it was possible to strengthen autistic people's responses to these social reinforcers, but he found these improvements were not associated with any general improvement in overall behavior.^[1]

In a 1987 paper, psychologists Frank Gresham and Donald MacMillan described a number of weaknesses in Lovass's research and judged that it would be better to call the evidence for his interventions "promising" rather than "compelling".^[23]

Lovaas's original technique usedaversives such as striking, shouting, and electrical shocks to punish undesired behaviors.^[20] By 1979, Lovaas had abandoned the use of aversives, and in 2012 the use of electric shocks was described as being inconsistent with contemporary practice.^[1][19]

• Professional practice of behavior analysis

• Treatment of autism
• Behaviorism
• Behavior modification

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