Addressing the Controversy

If you found your way to this page, it’s because you may have found some negative opinions or “science” based theory that suggests that the Rapid Prompting Method is not based in science and therefore is not recognized by the medical community as a valid source of therapy. 

I would like to address the controversy.  

The creator of the RPM method was approached by a group of neuro scientists at Cornell University to take part in conducting research and she was happy to oblige.  The research project was titled:  ‘Harnessing repetitive behaviors to engage attention and learning in a novel therapy for autism: an exploratory analysis.’  

I am presenting this information here to let you know that this information is out there and we at RPM will never hide it.  Ultimately, you have to sort through the vast differences of opinion and “data” and decide what’s right for your family and your child.  I have had the opportunity to be a part of a large network of parents who have children diagnosed with Autism ‘and one theme is consistently woven through this network.  What works for one child simply may not work for the next child.  There are so many factors that weigh in on the effectiveness or success on ANY given therapy.  

Soma’s methods were developed out of a need that was not being provided in the traditional methods of therapy and from an innate understanding of how her son’s brain functioned.  It was also based on a belief system that ALL children are capable of learning.  The challenges for determining effectiveness of any learning method comes from a standard of teaching that determines intelligence and comprehension based on how a student performs in a testing environment.  This primarily uses speech and motor skills as the goal post, however it excludes the knowledge that there is a fundamental disconnect between the body and the brain.  For children facing extreme sensory challenges, this process can be insulting and demeaning and surely doesn’t display what they actually comprehend.  

The following points are summarized from Soma’s website.  Please don’t hesitate to visit her website for more detail.  

Research to determine effectiveness of RPM as a teaching method is difficult, if not impossible because baseline points or summit points can be extremely difficult to establish.  

Please consider the following points:  

• There is a wide variety of ages of the student: RPM can be an effective learning method for any student as young as 2 years old up 70 years and beyond.  Selecting only one age group for research does not determine the effectiveness to all.  

• Students begin with different skill levels. This is by far one of the biggest challenges to conduct research.  Different students come with different motor skills that are acquired with practice. There are some students who are verbal that prefer to speak while others are selectively verbal using hyper-imitation/echolalia, scripted speech, OCD related speech or limited social speech.   Teaching to spell their responses can gradually make their speech more purposeful.   

• Students have different open learning channels. The RPM teacher will adapt each lesson to the individualized needs of each student based on assessment of the open learning channels that day.  This is absolutely necessary for the best student performance and once again, a major hindrance of an effective scientific study of RPM.  

• Students have unique impulses such as OCD, emotions, excitatory stimulations. A student’s learning and responding may be interrupted by these stims and definitely have the capability of disrupting a scientific conclusion.    

• RPM has no skill plateau.  Any scientific study has to have a beginning and an end.  In the RPM teaching model the sky is the limit which is the same for every learning process known to humans.  Skills and knowledge take practice, determination and a lifetime dedication to learning.  There is no defined beginning or end.  

So is there controversy?  Absolutely, as there is in everything we encounter in life.  Do your research.  Consider all sides, trust your gut, embrace your decisions and confidently move forward.  Because standing still is simply not an option and your child is depending on you.