title: Reducing pica by teaching children to exchange inedible items for edibles.
abstract: Assessment results indicated that pica exhibited by two boys with developmental disabilitieswas not associated with environmental contingencies. Consistent with previous research, an oral stimulation function was hypothesized. A related intervention that taught participants to exchange inedible items for edibles was developed. Findings showed that the intervention resulted in reductions in pica for both participants. When the interventionwas introduced across settings, reductions in pica were observed for one participant. However, additional training with alternative pica itemswas necessary to produce reductions in pica across settings with the second participant. Reductions in pica were maintained as the intervention was systematically thinned.
authors.affiliation: Lehigh University, USA.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Starosta
authors.forename: Barry Eshkol
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Adelman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010842:Pica / Q000628:therapy*; D014163:Transfer, Psychology