In verbal behavior therapy, what is a primary goal for children with communication challenges?

In verbal behavior therapy, enhancing functional communication strategies is a primary goal for children with communication challenges. This approach emphasizes teaching children how to effectively express their needs, wants, and thoughts in meaningful ways. By focusing on functional communication, practitioners aim to improve the child's ability to interact with others, build relationships, and navigate their environment more successfully. This is particularly relevant for children who may have difficulty with traditional forms of communication, as functional communication strategies can include any means of expressing oneself, such as gestures, signs, or vocalizations that serve a clear purpose in social contexts.

The other options, although they may touch on aspects of communication, do not reflect the core objectives of verbal behavior therapy. Avoiding social interactions is contrary to the nature of the therapy, which seeks to promote engagement. Focusing exclusively on academic skills neglects the importance of communication in social situations. Likewise, eliminating spontaneous speech runs counter to the goal of fostering natural language use and expression, which is vital for effective communication development.