title: Reduction of automatically maintained self-injurious behavior utilizing noncontingent matched stimuli.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analyze the effects of noncontingent matched stimulation (NMS) on the self-injurious behavior (SIB) of an eight-year-old boy with autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, a functional analysis was conducted to identify the reinforcers maintaining SIB. Next, an informal preference assessment was conducted to identify a potential object to provide safe matched stimulation. A multielement design was implemented to evaluate the effects of two conditions: (a) noncontingent access to attention and unmatched stimulation (DVD player) and (b) intervention consisting of access to NMS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results suggested that NMS resulted in a marked decrease of SIB relative to baseline conditions with unmatched stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that unconventional stimuli may provide stimulation similar to that produced by SIB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798-3701, USA. Tonya_Davis@baylor.edu
authors.forename: Tonya N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dacus
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Machalicek
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coviello
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D003463:Cues; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome