title: Promoting adaptive foot movements and reducing hand mouthing and eye poking in a boy with multiple disabilities through microswitch technology.
abstract: This study assessed the viability of a microswitch cluster (i.e. a combination of microswitches) plus contingent stimulation for promoting adaptive responding and reducing aberrant behavior in a boy with profound multiple disabilities. The boy was initially taught an adaptive foot-movement response that activated a motion microswitch and produced preferred stimuli. Subsequently, his foot response led to preferred stimuli only if it occurred in the absence of aberrant behavior (i.e. hand mouthing and eye poking which were detected through optic microswitches). Moreover, full access to the stimuli required that the boy refrain from aberrant behavior during their presentation as well. The study also included a 3-month post-intervention check and a social validation assessment. Data showed that the boy (i) increased his adaptive responding, (ii) learned to perform this responding largely free from aberrant behavior and refrained from that behavior for most of the session time, and (iii) maintained this performance at the post-intervention check. The social validation ratings of 40 teachers and teacher assistants significantly favored the last intervention period (in which aberrant behavior was reduced) over the initial period.
authors.affiliation: Department of psychology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.forename: Doretta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pidala
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piazzolla
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted