Abstract:

The Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge (PEAK) Relational Training System is the first verbal behavior assessment instrument and treatment protocol that integrates Skinner’s “Verbal Behavior” and Post-Skinnerism analysis of human language and cognition, “Relational Frame Theory”. It aims to address the language and cognitive deficits in children with autism. By the end of 2018, the PEAK system has published four modules: PEAK-Direct Training module (PEAK-DT), PEAK-Generalization module (PEAK-G), PEAK Equivalence module (PEAK-E) and PEAK-Transformation module (PEAK-T). Each of the modules contains a direct pre-assessment, a full 184-itemized skill assessment, and a 184 item curriculum. Based on the previous literature, PEAK-DT has broken the ceiling effect of the VB-MAPP milestone evaluation in patients with ASD, and the entirety PEAK system is prospected to provide a more advanced and comprehensive verbal behavior assessment and training system than VB-MAPP. Since the establishment of the PEAK system in 2014, many published empirical studies indicated that some properties of the PEAK system are: good reliability and validity as an assessment tool, effective treatment for the patients with ASD, and an easily-mastered operation in practice; which makes the PEAK system owning potential application value in the intervention delivered from behavioral analysists as well as autistic parents in the future.

Key words: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Relational Frame Theory, PEAK, verbal behavior, VB-MAPP