An Evaluation of a Game-Based Treatment Package on Intraverbals in Young Children with Autism

LaLonde et al. (2020) tested a bingo game plus labeled praise and pretend-play modeling. Three preschoolers with autism played the game and heard wh- questions. The team tracked how often each child answered without prompts.

Sessions ran a few times a week. No fancy tech. Just bingo cards, small toys, and enthusiastic praise tied to the correct answer.

All three kids learned to answer questions like “Where do you sleep?” or “What do you eat?” during the game. The answers stuck. Four weeks later the kids still got most questions right with no extra teaching.

The game also cut problem behavior. Kids stayed at the table longer and smiled more.

Aragon et al. (2024) got the same target—intraverbal answers—but used joint-control drills instead of a game. Both worked. Pick the method that keeps your client happy.

Tullis et al. (2021) used match-to-sample plus instructive feedback and still saw new intraverbal answers pop out. The bingo package is faster to set up and needs fewer materials.

Abdi et al. (2023) pushed vocabulary even further with a 16-session mixed approach. Their gains were huge, but the program took more time. Use LaLonde’s game when you need quick, cheap results; switch to Abdi’s package if you want broader language growth later.

You can run this package tomorrow. Print bingo cards with pictures, keep labeled praise ready (“Great answer—bed!”), and model a quick pretend action. In one week you can see new intraverbal answers and happier kids. No extra staff, no tablets, no data sheets fancier than a simple tally.