Effects of noncontingent sensory reinforcement on stereotypic behaviors in a child with posttraumatic neurological impairment.
A multiple baseline design across instructional sessions was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of noncontingent sensory reinforcement on stereotypic behaviors (grabbing and mouthing objects) displayed by an 8-year-old child with posttraumatic neurological impairment. The programmed sensory reinforcement was oral stimulation made accessible to the child by allowing her to chew on a designated and acceptable stimulus. Treatment was associated with a decrease in both object-grabbing and object-mouthing behaviors to near-zero levels. At a 6-month follow-up, the behaviors were absent without the use of sensory reinforcement. Issues of treatment formulation and implementation are discussed.
Luiselli
J K
JK
Psychological and Educational Resource Associates, Concord, MA 01742.
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008409:Mastication; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D014040:Token Economy; D016896:Treatment Outcome