For a 12-year-old patient who responds well to verbal reinforcement, what should the SLP adjust when increasing task difficulty?

The choice to change reinforcement to a variable-interval schedule is particularly effective for maintaining motivation and promoting persistence in a 12-year-old patient. When increasing task difficulty, it is crucial to provide reinforcement in a manner that encourages the individual to engage with the more challenging tasks without becoming discouraged.

A variable-interval schedule offers reinforcement after varying periods, which can reduce the predictability of rewards and keep the patient engaged. This strategy often leads to sustained motivation, as the child is not reliant on consistent rewards for every success but is instead encouraged by the prospect of reinforcement at unpredictable intervals. This can lead to improved performance, as the patient may maintain a higher level of engagement and effort while tackling more difficult tasks.

In contrast, providing continuous reinforcement at a higher level of difficulty might overwhelm the patient, making the tasks feel excessively challenging and possibly leading to frustration. Discontinuing reinforcement and providing merely a performance summary could result in loss of motivation and interest. Finally, shifting feedback to a punitive approach is counterproductive, as it may create anxiety and hinder the learning process. Thus, using a variable-interval schedule fosters a balance between challenge and motivation, supporting the patient's ability to tackle more difficult tasks effectively.