Kurtz, P. F., Chin, M. D., Huete, J. M., Tarbox, R. S. F., O'Connor, J. T., Paclawskyj, T. R., & Rush, K. S. (2003).
Functional analysis and treatment of self-injurious behavior in young children: A summary of 30 cases.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
36, 205-219.
The assessment and treatment of self-injurious behavior (SIB) has
received much attention in the literature; however, few studies
have focused on early intervention for this behavior. In the
current study, functional analyses with developmentally
appropriate modifications were conducted in an outpatient clinic
with 30 children (aged 10 months to 4 years 11 months) to assess
SIB and problem behavior in its early stages. The reported mean
age of SIB onset was 17 months, and head banging was the most
prevalent topography. Functional analyses identified sources of
reinforcement for SIB in 62.1% of cases; with the inclusion of
all forms of problem behavior, sources of reinforcement were
identified for 87.5% of cases. Function-based treatments were
developed for 24 cases, with functional communication training
prescribed most often (70.8% of cases). Implications of these
findings for the development of early intervention programs for
SIB are discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: _caregivers, development, functional analysis,
self-injurious behavior