Reducing self-stimulatory behavior of mentally retarded persons by alternative positive practice.
Wheelchair-mobility training (contingent upon inappropriate stereotypic behavior) combined with social praise (contingent upon toy-play behavior) effectively reduced the inappropriate behavior of three nonambulatory, profoundly retarded subjects to near-zero level. In a multiple-baseline design across subjects, self-directed and outward-directed behavior was recorded in 10-second, continuous intervals during two, 10-minute sessions per day for each subject. Baseline self-directed activity means and outward-directed activity means were altered significantly by the combined treatment approach, an effect confirmed by follow-up data.
D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009068:Movement; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D012653:Self Stimulation; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D014910:Wheelchairs