A functional communication treatment is used for adverse behavioral issues. The functional communication training treatment applies the differential enforcement program where an individual is trained in a different response. The response attracts the same kind of reinforcement that maintains problem behavior. Problem behavior is eradicated by ensuring that the reinforcement does not result from problem behavior. The alternative response could be manual signs, vocalization or any other kind of communication.
Facilitated communication treatment is used to assist people suffering from autism or other developmental disabilities and cannot talk. The treatment helps them to communicate their needs and their wants (Wong et al., 2015). During the facilitated communication treatment the communication facilitator sits or stands behind the individuals and holds their arms as they use a keyboard to communicate. Facilitated Communication treatment posits that anyone who cannot use verbal speech has hidden literacy and their intellect can function normally. They only need help from a facilitator and a keyboard.
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Evidence-based treatment refers to treatments that are backed by scientific evidence while non-evidence based treatment refers to treatments that are not backed by scientific evidence. The functional communication training treatment is evidence-based while the facilitated communication treatment is non-evidence based. Functional communication training treatment meets the evidence-based base practice criteria since it has 12 single case designs studies. The treatment is effective in learners aged 3 to 5 years and 15 to 22 years. There is no evidence showing that facilitated training treatment works. The treatment also features threats to the individual's, human and civil rights (Eliott, 2016). It is not clear whether the thoughts expressed originate from the facilitator or the individual.
Even though it is non-evidence based, parents might choose facilitated communication. Although communication is slow it is quite interesting for the individual. A new and normal mind is not discovered, but an autistic mind is slowly revealed. As the individual learns they discover a lot about themselves and their capabilities. They end up believing in themselves when they become independent. The two treatments might be confused because they both focus on communication and they address behavioral problems. Also, functional communication training is labeled (FCT) while facilitated communication is labeled (FC) this is quite confusing.
References
Elliott, J. n.d. (2016). Why Hasn't a Controversial Method for Autism Communication Disappeared? Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/07/a-controversial-method-for-autism-communication/491810/
Wong, C., Odom, S. L., Hume, K. A., Cox, A. W., Fettig, A., Kucharczyk, S., ... & Schultz, T. R. (2015). Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young adults with autism spectrum disorder: A comprehensive review. Journal of autism and developmental disorders , 45 (7), 1951-1966.
