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A Selective Review of Milieu Interventions for Adults with Severe Intellectual Disabilities

  • Communication Disorders (J Sigafoos, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Developmental Disorders Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper considers milieu training (MT) as a communication treatment for adults with severe intellectual disabilities. The paper seeks the following answers: (1) What is MT? (2) How does current research inform the MT knowledge base? and (3) Is MT a viable treatment option for adults with severe intellectual disabilities challenged by communication impairments?

Recent Findings

Research describes MT as a viable treatment option for young children with communication and language impairments. Specifically, MT has been applied with fidelity to several populations demonstrating emergent communication and language disabilities. The literature, however, suggests that recommendations regarding optimal treatment dosage remain unclear. Limited findings identify MT as a potential treatment for adults with a severe disability who present limited communicative abilities.

Summary

MT is an established treatment for communication impairment in young children with language disabilities and has potential applications for adults with severe intellectual disabilities. Future research should focus on efficacy studies designed to examine MT with this population.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Cali Powell for her assistance with the manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, 28723, USA

    Billy T. Ogletree & Johanna R. Price

  2. Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, 28723, USA

    Jonathan M. Campbell

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  1. Billy T. Ogletree
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  3. Jonathan M. Campbell
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Correspondence to Billy T. Ogletree.

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Conflict of Interest

Billy Ogletree, Johanna Price, and Jonathan Campbell report grants from the US Department of Education, #H325K190050, during the conduct of the study.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Ogletree, B.T., Price, J.R. & Campbell, J.M. A Selective Review of Milieu Interventions for Adults with Severe Intellectual Disabilities. Curr Dev Disord Rep 7, 109–115 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-020-00199-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-020-00199-6

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