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Using water mist to reduce self-injurious and stereotypic behavior
Applied Research in Mental Retardation
|January 1, 1983
Summary
A water mist effectively reduced stereotypic and self-injurious behaviors in a child with severe intellectual disability and autistic-like behaviors. This intervention was successfully implemented by classroom staff with no adverse effects observed.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Applied Behavior Analysis
Background:
- Investigated the efficacy of a response-contingent aversive stimulus for managing severe challenging behaviors.
- Focused on a case study of a boy with severe intellectual disability and autistic-like behaviors, including self-injurious hand-biting.
Observation:
- The study was conducted in a specialized classroom setting for children with autism and severe communication disorders.
- The target behaviors included stereotypic actions and self-injurious biting, evidenced by physical scarring.
Findings:
- A water mist, delivered contingent on the target behaviors, demonstrated rapid and significant suppression.
- An ABAB withdrawal design confirmed the suppressive effects of the water mist intervention.
- Classroom personnel were trained and successfully maintained the intervention with minimal disruption.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential of response-contingent aversive stimulation as an effective intervention for severe challenging behaviors.
- Discusses ethical considerations surrounding the use of such interventions in educational settings.
- Suggests the procedure can be feasibly integrated into classroom routines by trained staff.