Pivotal Response Training ( PRT)

Pivotal Response Training (PRT) is a variation of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) type therapy. It focuses on more comprehensive “pivotal” areas such as increasing a child’s motivation to learn, initiate communication, and monitor their own behaviors. This focus on motivation is crucial: a child who is motivated to change their behavior will experience more success. By focusing on critical over-arching areas, the effects of treatment can carry over into many aspects of a child’s behavior and skills including social, communicative, and academic.The goals of PRT are to

1. Advance children's communication and language skills
2. Foster social interactions and friendships
3. Reduce disruptive behaviors
4. Aid early identification and intervention
5. Reduce ritualistic behaviors and broaden children's interests
6. Improve children's performance in school

The Pivotal Areas of focus in PRT are:

1. Motivation
2. Working with multiple cues to encourage behavior
3. Encouraging initiations by the child
4. Self-management
5. Empathy development

Relevant study: 

TheEffect of Pivotal Response Treatment in Children with Autism SpectrumDisorders: A Non-randomized Study with a Blinded Outcome Measure ( 

Pivotal response treatment for autism spectrum disorder: current perspectives ( 2017) 

Pivotal response treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of research quality ( 2013) 

Effectiveness of Parent Education in Pivotal Response Treatment on Pivotal and Collateral Responses

( 2019) 

Heterogeneity of neural mechanisms of response to pivotal response treatment ( 2014)