Functional analysis and treatment of self-injurious behaviour in a young child with traumatic brain injury

There has been no research evaluating the utility of functional analysis (FA) in identifying effective interventions for severe problem behaviour in very young children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). It was hypothesized that FA technology would be applicable for this population and facilitate effective intervention development.

A within-subject A-B-A reversal design was used to evaluate a functional communication training (FCT) intervention. This design allows for a demonstration of experimental control of the intervention over behaviour in single-case research.

The authors conducted an FA of self-injurious behaviour (SIB) in an 18-month old boy with TBI. Results of the FA suggested that SIB was maintained, at least in part, by contingent maternal attention. An FCT intervention was used to teach a request for attention using an alternative communication device.

The FCT intervention reduced SIB to near zero and resulted in consistent use of an alternative communication device, functionally replacing SIB with desirable behaviour. The child's mother was coached to conduct all treatment sessions and reported satisfaction with the process.

Analysis of behavioural function may play an important role in developing effective interventions for very young TBI patients with behaviour problems.