Elizabeth S. Athens, Timothy R. Vollmer, Kimberly N. Sloman, Claire St. Peter Pipkin.
An analysis of vocal stereotypy and therapist fading.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2008,
41, 291-297.
A functional analysis for a boy with Down syndrome and autism suggested
that vocal stereotypy was maintained by automatic reinforcement. The analysis
also showed that instructions and noncontingent attention suppressed vocal
stereotypy. A treatment package consisting of noncontingent attention,
contingent demands, and response cost effectively reduced vocal stereotypy.
The treatment package remained effective even when noncontingent
attention was removed, making the procedure easier to implement. Also,
the presence of the therapist in the room with the participant was faded
systematically. After completion of fading, vocal stereotypy remained
low during conditions similar to the no-consequence phase of the
functional analysis.
DESCRIPTORS: autism, Down syndrome, response cost, treatment fading, vocal stereotypy