Replication of a skills assessment for auditory–visual conditional discrimination training

Kodak’s team ran a 10-minute visual-scanning test with the kids who have autism. The task: touch the picture that matches the spoken word.

They wanted to know if the quick probe could predict who would fail standard receptive-ID (AVCD) training later.

Nine of the twelve kids failed the scanning probe. All nine also failed the later AVCD program.

The three who passed the probe learned receptive labels fast. The brief test called the outcome almost perfectly.

Scotchie et al. (2023) did the same idea in feeding: a short multielement probe picked the bite size and texture that stopped expulsion before treatment started. Both papers show a five-minute assessment can save weeks of error-filled teaching.

Tincani et al. (2020) reviewed SGD studies and warned that most skip prerequisite checks. Kodak gives you one: check scanning first or your ‘mand’ program may flop for the same reason AVCD did—kids couldn’t see the right icon.

Vladescu et al. (2021) found smaller stimulus sets speed up tact learning. Kodak adds a gatekeeper: if the child can’t scan three pictures, set size won’t matter yet; teach scanning first.

Before you write a single receptive-ID goal, run the 10-minute probe. If the child scans poorly, teach visual discrimination first. You will avoid weeks of trial-and-error, reduce escape behavior, and start instruction at the real baseline. It’s a tiny step that prevents big failure.