5820 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 203

Pleasanton, CA 94588 www.ntg-inc.com

haleh@ntg-inc.com

HalehPezeshkanM.S.,CCC-SLP,AACSpecialist Page1

PromptHierarchies

Aprompthierarchyisastructuredsystematicmethodofassistingstudentstolearnandusenewskills.Prompthierarchiesprovideeachstudentwithagreaternumberofopportunitiestocommunicate.Theywillreducethestudent’sleveloffrustration,anger,andadultdependency.Therearetwodifferenttypesofprompthierarchies:Most-To-LeastandLeast-To-Most.

1. Most-To-Least-Thisprompthierarchyisusedbeforeanewskillismastered.Itprovidesaveryhighlevelofsupportinlearningandacquisitionofanewskill.Thepromptinglevelwillfadedownoncetheskillismastered.ThefollowingisthesequenceforMost-To-Leastpromptinglevels:(1) FullPhysicalPrompt(2) PartialPhysicalPrompt(3) ModelPrompt(4) GesturePrompt(5) VerbalPrompt(6) IndirectPrompt(VerbalorNonverbal)(7) PositionPrompt(8) VisualPrompt(9) Independent

2. Least-To-Most–Thisprompthierarchyisusedafterastudenthaslearnedanewskillandisworkingonmastery,

generalizationandindependence.ThefollowingisthesequenceforLeast-To-Mostpromptinglevels:(1) Independent(2) VisualPrompt(3) PositionPrompt(4) IndirectPrompt(VerbalorNonverbal)(5) VerbalPrompt(6) GesturePrompt(7) ModelPrompt(8) PartialPhysicalPrompt(9) FullPhysicalPrompt

Descriptionofeachpromptinglevel:

v Independent=Thestudentisabletoperformthetaskonhis/herownwithnopromptsorassistance.v VisualPrompt=Adultusesvisualmaterialssuchasphotographs,videotapes,icons,ordrawingsofatask

independentlyorinasequenceofimages.

5820 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 203

Pleasanton, CA 94588 www.ntg-inc.com

haleh@ntg-inc.com

HalehPezeshkanM.S.,CCC-SLP,AACSpecialist Page2

v PositionPrompt=Adultholdsanitemorhis/herhandclosetothestudentwithexpectantfacialexpression.v VerbalPrompt=(1)Direct-Adultgivesaspecificverbaldirectioninadditiontothetaskdirection.

(2)Indirect–Adulttellsthestudentsomethingaboutwhatisexpectedsuchasoralinformationorquestionthatleadsthestudentintherightdirection.Facialexpressions,handmotions,andshrugsarealsoconsideredindirectnonverbalprompts.

v GesturePrompt=Adultusespointing,gesturing,andfacialexpressionstocommunicatespecificinformationtothestudent.

v ModelPrompt=Adultdemonstratesthetaskthatisrequestedofthestudentandthestudentimitatestheadult’smodel.

v PartialPhysicalPrompt=Adulttouchesthestudenttoelicitaresponse(e.g.minimalphysicalguidancesuchastouchingthestudent’shand/elbowtoinitiateorcompleteatask).

v FullPhysicalPrompt=Hand-over-handassistance–Adultplacehis/herhandoverthestudent’shandtohelpwithcompletingthetask.

ExpectantDelay:Expectantdelayortimedelayreferstofadingtheuseofpromptsduringinstructionalactivitiesbyprovidingabriefdelaybetweentheinitialinstruction,additionalinstructionsand/orprompts.Itallowstheadulttograduallyincreasethewaitingtimebetweenaninstructionandanypromptsusedtoelicitaresponse.Pause:Itisextremelyimportantforthecommunicationpartnertopauseandallowthestudenttorespondwhenusingtheprompthierarchylevels.Itisrecommendedforthecommunicationpartnertopauseforatleast10secondsbeforepresentinganothercommunicationopportunitytothestudent.