Podcasts · The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs

#257: The Importance of Matching as a Skill with Emily Kearney

2 Dec 2025 · 36 min · Episode 257

Emily Kearney, BCBA, who has been working in the field since 1999, joins the show to dive into a topic we haven’t explored in depth before: matching as a skill. Though it may seem simple, matching is foundational for learners of all ages. This critical skill supports language, play, leisure, problem solving, and actions across the lifespan.

We discuss how matching isn’t always identical—it can be based on features, categories, or associations—and how it develops from early learning readiness into more complex skills for older learners. Emily highlights teaching strategies like multiple exemplar training and ensuring stimulus control by using the variety of cues learners encounter in real-world settings. For example, a “cup” can vary in material, size, color, shape, or function, but learning to recognize it in all its forms builds observation skills, problem-solving, and perseverance.

For older learners, we explore adding a language component, asking questions like “how do you know it’s a match?” to encourage reasoning and verbalization. Matching isn’t just a simple game; it's a prerequisite for broader communication, life, and learning.

For questions or mentorship opportunities, reach out to Emily at emily@kearneybehaviorconsulting.com.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Why matching is a critical skill across all ages • Matching isn't about just finding identical matches • Teaching strategies including multiple exemplar training and stimulus control • Real-world examples to generalize matching skills across environments • The language component of matching for older learners

Mentioned In This Episode:

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