Self-stimulatory behavior can be an effective reinforcer for spontaneous language in children with autism. This study shows contingent access to self-stimulation increased appropriate sentence production.
Area of Science:
Behavioral Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Background:
Self-stimulatory behavior is common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Understanding effective reinforcement strategies is crucial for interventions targeting communication deficits in ASD.
Previous research has explored various reinforcers, but the utility of self-stimulation itself remains an area of interest.
Purpose of the Study:
To investigate the efficacy of using self-stimulatory behavior as a contingent reinforcer for spontaneous appropriate sentence production in two children with autism.
To determine if making self-stimulation contingent on language output increases the rate of appropriate sentences.
Main Methods:
An ABABA single-subject research design was utilized.
Participants were two children diagnosed with autism.
A token system was implemented where tokens were earned for spontaneous appropriate sentences.
Condition A involved contingent access to self-stimulation (requiring tokens), while Condition B involved non-contingent access (no tokens required).
Main Results:
Both participants demonstrated a significantly higher rate of spontaneous appropriate sentences during the contingent self-stimulation (Condition A) phase compared to the non-contingent phase (Condition B).
This finding indicates that self-stimulation effectively functioned as a reinforcer for the target language behavior.
Conclusions:
Self-stimulatory behavior can serve as a potent and effective reinforcer in behavioral interventions for children with autism.
These results suggest that incorporating self-stimulation contingently may be a viable strategy to increase spontaneous communication in autistic children.
Further research is warranted to explore the broader applicability and ethical considerations of using self-stimulation as a therapeutic tool.
