title: Functional analysis and treatment of verbal perseverations displayed by an adult with autism.
abstract: The function of perseverative speech for an adult man who had been diagnosed with autism and mental retardation was examined. Results showed that verbal perseverations were maintained by social attention. An intervention consisting of differential reinforcement of appropriate verbal responses and extinction of perseverative verbal responding was effective in decreasing verbal perseverations.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute, Rehabilitation Services Program, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901-4609, USA. rehfeldt@siu.edu
authors.forename: Ruth Anne
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rehfeldt
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012932:Social Facilitation; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D014705:Verbal Behavior