Functional communication training (FCT)

Functional communication training (FCT) teaches your child a clear way to ask for the same thing a challenging behavior was getting them. In a 1985 study, Carr and Durand described some behavior problems as a way to communicate without words. So FCT starts with a functional behavior assessment (FBA). It finds what the behavior gets your child, such as attention, help or a break. Then the team teaches a request that gets the same result. It might be a word, a sign, a picture card or a speech device.

Hagopian and colleagues say it's one of the more common treatments for problem behavior. A large autism report says that in FCT, the old behavior usually stops getting its payoff, called extinction, while Tiger and colleagues note a few cases where FCT worked without it.

Say your child pushes a hard puzzle away, and the assessment shows the behavior gets them a break. With FCT, they might learn to hand over a break card, and the short break comes right away. Early on, the request should work every time. Later, the team slowly teaches waiting, sometimes with a "wait" card. Some challenging behavior is expected during that step. The skill has to work with everyone who cares for your child, in every place, including home.

• What the behavior gets: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) what the FBA found and which request the team will teach.
• The old behavior: Ask how the team will respond to the old behavior while your child learns the new request.
• Practicing at home: Ask how you should respond to the request at home, and whether parent training covers it.