Speak Up: Increasing Conversational Volume in a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

One child with autism spoke so softly that peers could not hear him. The team built a three-part package: an iPad app that colored the screen green only when his voice hit 65 dB, a silent wristband that buzzed when volume dropped, and small toys for staying loud.

They ran an ABAB reversal. Baseline showed whispers. When the package turned on, the boy’s average voice jumped from 55 dB to 68 dB. The researchers removed the tools, volume fell, then rose again when tools returned.

Conversational volume moved into the typical 65-70 dB range every time the package was active. Teachers and parents could hear the child without leaning in.

Gains showed up in the first session and stayed high across four weeks. The boy also started talking more often, but the study only tracked loudness.

Delgado-Lobete et al. (2019) and Aravamudhan et al. (2021) also used prompts to shape speech, but they targeted words and sounds, not volume. All three studies used single-case reversals and saw quick jumps in the chosen skill, showing that prompt-plus-reinforcement packages work for different speech goals.

Kaneda et al. (2025) looked like a contradiction at first: they turned OFF speech output and still got more talking. The difference is purpose. Moeka wanted the child to use his own voice instead of the device; Edgerton wanted the same voice to be louder. Both used differential reinforcement, proving the strategy can serve separate communication needs.

Dudley et al. (2019) reviewed dozens of school social-skills studies and found most were run by researchers, not teachers. Edgerton’s package is simple enough that a teacher could run it while she teaches, moving us closer to everyday classroom use.

If a client speaks too softly to be included, you now have a turnkey package: free voice app, cheap buzzer, and stickers. No extra staff. Run a quick reversal to show the team it works, then hand the plan to the teacher. Louder voice today, more peer play tomorrow.