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| International Paper Session - Issues in Developmental Disabilities |
| Monday, May 28, 2007 |
| 9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
| Elizabeth DE |
| Area: DDA |
| Chair: Sigmund Eldevik (Center for Early Intervention, Oslo, Norway) |
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| Automatic Reinforcement: Default or Deception? |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| F. J. BARRERA (Private Consultant Practice, FBPP Corp.), Ross A Violo (Adjunct Member), Carobeth Zorzos (Adjunct Member) |
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| Abstract: This paper presents the case of Tamara, a 13-yr-old female with Self-Injurious Behaviour (SIB). Her multiple-topography SIB was severe (incurring in tissue damage) and with high frequency (rates >30,000 hits per day), and she had an extensive history of physical and mechanical restraints.
The function of Tamara’s SIB was determined to be ‘automatic’ as assessed by indirect methods (e.g., FAST=100% automatic reinforcement; MAS=88% sensory function), direct observation across settings, and a controlled experimental functional analysis, in which behavioural and physiological data collected across four conditions (continuous ignore or attention, and contingent ignore or attention) ruled out social mediation.
Subsequently, we examined the reinforcing value of SIB by using opportunity to self injure as a contingent reinforcer for an independent response, and investigated separately the potential sensory feedback of SIB impact via a sensory components analysis. The results indicated that while SIB had a minimal reinforcing value, this value was unrelated to any of its sensory effects. Preventing one SIB topography, however, virtually eliminated all forms of SIB, suggesting that escape from SIB was the maintaining function.
These results suggest that invoking’ automatic reinforcement’ as a maintaining default variable creates an explanatory deception, which deters further analyses of behavioural causation. |
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| Effects of Early Behavioral Intervention for Children with Mental Retardation. |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| SIGMUND ELDEVIK (Center for Early Intervention, Oslo, Norway), Erik Jahr (Akershus University Hospital, Norway) |
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| Abstract: Data from various public services in Norway were analyzed. Based on the treatment they had received children were divided to two groups. One group of children (n=10) received on average 10 hours per week of 1:1 behavioral treatment. The other group of children (n=11) was an eclectic treatment control group. All children had been assessed on intelligence and adaptive behavior pre treatment, and after approximately 1 year of treatment.
At intake the two groups did not differ significantly on any of the variables measured. After 1 year of treatment the changes in intelligence scores were statistically significant in favor of the behavioral treatment group. Scores on adaptive behavior did not differ significantly between groups after one year of treatment. The average IQ gain for the behavioral treatment group was 18 points whereas the control group only gained 4 points.
These results suggest that behavioral treatment may be the treatment of choice also for children with mental retardation. Furthermore, children with mental retardation seem to profit more than groups traditionally targeted for behavioral treatment, such as children with autism and PDD-NOS. |
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