Introduction:

• Reinforcement is a stimulus that follows and is depending upon a behavior and increase the probability of a behavior being repeated.
• Positive reinforcement works by presenting a motivating or reinforcing stimulus to the person after the desired behavior is exhibited, making like behavior more likely to happen in the future.

Effects of reinforcement to enhance target behaviour

• Likewise for the kids with communication disorders; if we reinforce the child for a positive response (even though it is a small change or response); they will be motivated and will increase that response thus we can improve their positive response by rewarding a reinforcement on time.
• Reinforcement should be delivered within 30 seconds after the child’s positive or desired response or behaviour.
• Negative reinforcement occurs when a certain stimulus is removed after a particular behaviour is exhibited. The likelihood of the particular behaviour occurring again in the future is increased because of removing or avoiding the negative consequences.
• Recent studies found that when a child is reinforced, they shows high level of interest satisfaction and active participation and likelihood of repeating the positive response.

Positive reinforcement- benefits

• It encourage good behaviour
• Behaviour is strengthened
• It will develop the character
• Better emotional response

To reduce a behavior we can use negative reinforcement.

• Positive reinforcement is generally the most effective behaviour management strategy in dealing with challenging behaviors of children with ASD.
• It helps autistic children to learn new behavior from life skills through to alternatives to repetitive behaviors.

Rules while using reinforcement

• When starting out, you will reward the child every time the target behaviors occurs
• Gradually fade reinforcement by offering less and less as the desired behavior emerges
• Always pair edible, social or toy reinforcements with verbal praise.
• Should deliver the reinforcement within 30 sec for the positive response.

In Autism we can use reinforcement to:

• Increase the desired behaviours and skills levels
• In care of autism if a child is asked to point to a tree, and then points correctly to the tree, he will immediately receive a reinforce (hug, candy, star). This will result in the chid correctly pointing to the tree more often when someone asked him to point to a tree.
• Once a child can point consistently to the tree, he can be asked to point to a flower or bird. Slowly, you can build up the child’s repository of knowledge.
• Positive reinforcement opens the door to functional skills and academic learning.