SIBLINGS USE OF MILIEU TEACHING AT HOME

This study examined the effects of teaching 3 older siblings to use tw o milieu teaching procedures, modeling and mand modeling, with their y ounger siblings who exhibited language delays. A single-subject, multi ple baseline design across subjects was used to determine the effects of the intervention on the behavior of the siblings and the target chi ldren. Results indicated that siblings were able to apply milieu teach ing techniques while playing with the target children. Siblings' respo nsiveness to the target children's verbal initiations also increased. The target children learned to use their targeted utterances in respon se to teaching attempts by their siblings and used the target spontane ously. Additionally, the interactions between the children became more positive and balanced during the intervention. Generally, all the sib lings and target children maintained the changes in their behavior. Tw o of the three dyads generalized the behavioral changes to a snack set ting. Implications for future investigations of sibling-implemented la nguage intervention are discussed.