Discrete Trial Training (DTT) in ABA Autism Therapy
Effective ABA Strategy for Teaching Foundational Skills
What Is Discrete Trial Training?
Discrete Trial Training (DTT) is a structured and highly effective teaching method used in ABA Autism therapy to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) learn new skills by breaking down complex behaviors into smaller, manageable parts. DTT is one of the most well-known forms of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and is often used in early intervention programs, clinical settings, and even schools that offer ABA support.
By focusing on repetition, clear instructions, and reinforcement, DTT helps children master critical developmental skills, including communication, social interaction, and academic abilities.
Why Discrete Trial Training Is Important in ABA Autism Programs?
Children with autism often face challenges with attention, communication, and social understanding. These challenges can make it difficult to learn through traditional teaching methods. Discrete Trial Training provides a step-by-step learning approach that is predictable, consistent, and tailored to the child’s unique learning pace.
In ABA Autism treatment, DTT is particularly valuable because:
- It isolates individual skills for focused teaching.
- It uses positive reinforcement to motivate and encourage progress.
- It allows for repeated practice and data tracking.
- It can be adjusted to meet the child’s developmental level and progress.
How Discrete Trial Training Works
Key Components of a Discrete Trial
Each trial in DTT follows a specific structure:
- Antecedent (Instruction) – The therapist gives a clear and concise instruction (e.g., “Touch the red block”).
- Prompt (if needed) – The therapist may help guide the child to the correct response, especially during early stages.
- Response – The child responds to the instruction.
- Consequence – If the response is correct, the child receives positive reinforcement (e.g., praise, a favorite toy, or edible reward). If incorrect, the therapist may provide gentle correction and repeat the trial.
- Intertrial Interval – A short pause before beginning the next trial.
Each DTT session typically includes multiple trials (10–20 or more), allowing for repeated exposure to the skill being taught.
Example of DTT
For example, if you wanted the child to make eye contact; you would start with an instruction of saying the student's name, such as “Hunter” while attempting to get the child to respond by looking at the individual that spoke their name. Initially, this may require prompting on the trainer’s part to get eye contact.
Once the desired behavior is performed as outlined in the program, the child is immediately (within ½ second) presented with a reinforcer. Reinforcers are things such as a small piece of preferred food, favorite toys, social interactions, verbal praise, or social play all dependent on that specific child’s preferences. A great way to gain eye contact right after saying a child's name is when pushing them on a swing. Pause pushing them, say their name and as soon as they make eye contact, push them on the swing as the reward. This could also be done in a wagon, if the child likes wagon rides. Pause pulling the wagon, say their name and as soon as they make eye contact, pull the wagon again. You can also do both of these activities without saying their name to work on eye contact as a request for an activity.
Benefits of Discrete Trial Training for Children with Autism
Families and therapists choose DTT as part of an ABA Autism therapy program because of its many advantages:
✅ Clear expectations: Children know exactly what is expected in each trial.
✅ Immediate feedback: Reinforcement or correction happens instantly, supporting faster learning.
✅ Trackable progress: Therapists collect data on every trial, helping to measure skill acquisition over time.
✅ Individualized learning: DTT programs are customized for each child’s abilities and goals.
✅ Repetition and consistency: Repeated practice helps solidify learning and promote generalization.
Skills Taught Using DTT in ABA Autism Programs
DTT can be used to teach a wide range of essential skills, including:
- Language and Communication: Requesting items, labeling objects, using communication cards, or developing verbal skills.
- Cognitive Skills: Matching, sorting, identifying colors and shapes.
- Social Skills: Making eye contact, responding to greetings, taking turns.
- Daily Living Skills: Brushing teeth, dressing, following routines.
- Academic Skills: Recognizing letters, numbers, simple math concepts.
The structured nature of DTT makes it especially useful in early intervention programs for children with ASD, where foundational learning is critical.
Rate of Progress with Discrete Trial Training
Each child’s rate of progress varies, but the more hours devoted to the use of discrete trial training and applied behavior analysis, the higher the success rate. While initially the trainer would probably complete the training in a structured environment with minimal distractions, it would also eventually be used in a more relaxed manner while engaging the child in a preferred activity, such as playing at the park.
Challenges and Considerations
While DTT is highly effective, it’s not without limitations. Some critics argue that DTT can feel robotic or rigid if not balanced with naturalistic teaching methods like Pivotal Response Training (PRT) or play-based ABA. To avoid this, many modern ABA programs combine DTT with other evidence-based strategies to create a more engaging, real-world learning experience.
Also, because of the high level of structure and repetition, DTT should always be delivered by trained professionals who can recognize when a child is becoming disengaged and adjust the session accordingly.
Who Delivers Discrete Trial Training?
ABA therapists, also called Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), are typically the professionals who administer DTT under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). These therapists are trained to:
- Set up and run DTT sessions.
- Use appropriate prompting and reinforcement techniques.
- Collect accurate data for review and program adjustments.
Parents may also be trained to reinforce DTT skills at home, helping to generalize learning across settings.
Discrete Trial Training vs. Naturalistic ABA Methods
While Discrete Trial Training is a cornerstone of ABA Autism therapy, it’s often combined with other teaching methods such as Pivotal Response Treatment. Here’s how it compares:
By using DTT alongside other techniques, children benefit from both structured repetition and real-world application.
Is DTT Right for Your Child?
If your child has been diagnosed with autism and struggles with learning basic skills, Discrete Trial Training could be an essential part of their therapy plan. It's especially beneficial during early intervention, when foundational skills need to be built quickly and efficiently.
Speak with a qualified BCBA to determine if DTT is appropriate for your child’s individual goals. A comprehensive ABA Autism treatment plan may include DTT as a core component, supported by complementary methods tailored to your child’s strengths and challenges.
Conclusion
Discrete Trial Training is a foundational strategy in ABA Autism therapy, known for its effectiveness in helping children with autism learn a wide range of essential skills. With its structured approach, focus on repetition, and use of positive reinforcement, DTT remains one of the most impactful tools in early intervention and beyond.
While this treatment option has a good evidenced based outcome, I believe to ensure progress, it is important to create a good health foundation for the child to be able to learn through this technique. When the use of biomedical treatments for autism and the proactive strategies outlined in my eBook How to Tame Your Child's Inner Tiger: Secrets to fixing tantrums and meltdowns for children with Autism and ADHD are in place. Both will help to increase a child's success rate with ABA and discrete trial training.
If you haven't already, be sure to check out my ebooks, now on Amazon!
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