The Paper

What do we know so far about the area of the literature that you reviewed?

The literature review portion is a crucial aspect of the project. It can help to gather the already known information of the topic to further discuss and it. This will serve as a platform and a basis of further analyzing the topic.

For this literature review, I will be discussing what is already known. Research previously conducted has demonstrated that there is a high correlation between parents who have children diagnose with autism have an increase in stress levels (Nolcheva, & Trajkovski, 2015). Several of the articles reviewed elaborated on the topic. It was discussed that parents have higher than normal stress levels when they are first given the diagnosis and do not know what to do with their children. Not knowing how to help them or be able to make a difference in their life. Furthermore, other articles emphasized that stress increases when parents are not able to communicate with their children who is diagnosed with autism. Several of children diagnosed with autism have deficits in communication skills as well as with receptive communication. There has been several of research conducted on B.F. Skinners theory of Verbal Behavior (Skinner, 1952). Verbal behavior is a theory in which individuals can acquire a method to communicate with other people in the environment. Such as the extensive research that has been done on using PECS as a method of communication. PECS has been used and shown to be an effective way to request for items, form a sentence, and express thoughts. Literature review on the usage of PECS as a means of communication has shown to be an effective way for parents and children to communicate with each other. This will reduce the stress that was build up as a result of not being able to communicate.

What do you think we need to know to advance the knowledge base?

In order to advance the knowledge base of this topic more research should be conducted. In this research, all aspects are carefully considered and evaluated. For example, identifying all of the components that contribute to being non-verbal and why PECS are the most useful way to teach a child to communicate. A research in which parents who have children diagnosed with autism and were taught to use PECS early on when the child was first diagnosed. How does being taught to use PECS as means of communication differ from teaching it when stress and other habits have been developed already. Just exploring different aspects of the topic and ways to make a difference on the stress felt by parents and children caused by the miscommunication.

How will this new knowledge serve the stakeholders (scientists, care providers, families, patients, institutions) that may in turn be served by implementation of new developments?

This new knowledge will help inform the stakeholders, family members, parents, and even professionals on ways to prevent and help to acquire a method of communication early on in the process of the diagnosis. Parents can benefit by not being so stressed out on how will they be able to help out their children who cannot express their wants and needs. Children can benefit by being able to effectively communicate with a method such as PECS, their wants, needs, likes, dislikes, and other aspects that are crucial to help them become more independent. New knowledge, new skills, new information that can serve as the basis of better results for interventions for children with ASD and better outlook for the parents as they will be helping to make a difference in their child’s life.

Distill your statement of the research problem to one or two sentences that describe what must be learned about the problem.

Parents should learn more about the benefits of PECS as a method of communication and how it can help them reduce the stress levels felt by non-being able to communicate with their non-verbal children.

Reference

Reference

Nolcheva, M., & Trajkovski, V. (2015). Exploratory study: Stress, coping and support

Among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. The Journal of Special

Education and Rehabilitation, 16(3/4), 84-100.

Skinner, B. (1992). Verbal behavior. Acton, Mass: Copley.