Physical exercise as a reinforcer to promote calmness of an ADHD child.
Age-appropriate reinforcers have been found to be effective in promoting attentiveness and calmness with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study with a 4-year-old ADHD boy found attentive calmness was substantially increased from a mean of about 3 seconds per trial to the maximum scheduled duration of 60 seconds by using a scheduled period of physical activity as the reinforcer for the attentive-calmness. These results suggest the possible use of this type of reinforcer as an addition or substitution for the usual reinforcers in contingency management with ADHD children.
Azrin
Nathan H
NH
Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308, USA. nazrin@nova.edu
Ehle
Christopher T
CT
Beaumont
Amy L
AL
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology