Understanding Pivotal Response Treatment in ABA Therapy

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is an effective method for helping children with autism. At InBloom Autism Services, we incorporate PRT into our therapy. It is one of the many methods our therapists use to help your child learn and grow.

Diagnostic Evaluations (DX) for autism spectrum disorder are the first step.

What Is Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)?

Pivotal Response Treatment is a play-based, natural approach to building positive skills in children with autism. Rather than focusing on a specific behavior, such as sharing a toy, PRT works on broad, pivotal areas of behavior.

As they grow in these pivotal areas, children can develop important skills, from communication to socialization and more. This sets them up for success at home, in school, and throughout their lives.

Diagnostic Evaluations (DX) for autism spectrum disorder are the first step.

Key Parts of PRT

The pivotal areas we focus on with Pivotal Response Treatment include:

Self-Management
Being more aware of their behaviors and actions and learning to manage these positively is the essence of self-management. PRT helps your child relate to those around them and to their environment more effectively.

Multiple Cues
Cues can be things in the environment, gestures, social cues, or nonverbal signals. PRT helps children with autism recognize and respond to a variety of cues, enabling them to interact and communicate with those around them.

Social Initiation
For children with autism, learning to initiate social interaction in a healthy, positive way is essential. PRT helps to build important skills, like raising a hand to be called on in a classroom.

Motivation
In PRT, positive reinforcement helps motivate kiddos to learn new skills. For example, when they make a meaningful attempt to ask a therapist to read a book, they are rewarded with praise and, importantly, having that book read to them. Giving children a choice in what they do and alternating between easy and hard activities can also help build their motivation.

BCBAs and RBTs provide individualized structured and unstructured play and interaction as part of therapy at InBloom.
BCBAs and RBTs provide individualized structured and unstructured play and interaction as part of therapy at InBloom.

How PRT Works

Pivotal Response Treatment uses a play-based approach, making learning enjoyable and natural. Play is an important foundation for development in all children, and children with autism are no exception. By incorporating PRT into play, our therapists can help your child build positive skills that will carry over into many other real-world settings.

A reward system is an important part of PRT. Simply put, when a child makes a meaningful effort to use a positive skill, it’s encouraged. For example, if they make an effort to request a particular toy, they’ll be given the opportunity to play with that toy.

Implementing PRT

At our InBloom Autism Services locations, our experienced therapists do an excellent job of incorporating PRT into your child’s therapy. Our play-based environment and opportunities for socialization create a great foundation for PRT, adding to your child’s therapy experience.

Like other therapeutic techniques for autism, Pivotal Response Treatment is even more beneficial when used at home. Our therapists can coach you on incorporating PRT into your child’s home life to create continuity and improve outcomes for your child.

Benefits of Pivotal Response Treatment for Children

PRT offers a wealth of benefits. Here are just a few:

  • Learning healthy social initiation promotes overall development, fosters healthy connections with peers, and builds independence and autonomy.
  • Self-management skills increase executive function and decision-making, preparing your child for success at school and beyond. Learning to regulate their emotions can help with stress management.
  • Learning to respond to multiple cues can help your child navigate social situations and apply their skills in a wide variety of settings. This also builds their confidence and independence.

Research and Evidence

Pivotal Response Treatment is a proven, well-researched method for helping children on the autism spectrum. One study showed that when combined with language interventions in children with autism, PRT helps with language development, while also improving cognitive and social skills. Some brain imaging studies show improvement in brain activity in the areas of socialization and communication as a result of PRT.

Comparing PRT With Traditional ABA

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy at InBloom helps children develop positive behaviors and skills naturally. Pivotal Response Treatment is based on the principles of ABA and can be thought of as just one aspect of ABA therapy at InBloom.

PRT fosters the pivotal skills that form a foundation for success. It is one of the many methods our therapists use to create an effective, personalized therapy experience for your child.

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Take the Next Step in Your Autism Therapy Journey

We take pride in offering We invite you to take the next step on your child’s journey of growth and discovery. ABA therapy at InBloom Autism Services can help your child unlock their full potential and blossom in new and exciting ways. Contact us today, or give us a call at 888-754-0398.