Protective equipment: continuous and contingent application in the treatment of self-injurious behavior

This study evaluated the use of protective equipment in treating self-injurious behavior (SIB) exhibited by three retarded persons. In Experiment 1, the equipment was first applied continuously during 20-min sessions in individual multiple baseline designs across settings. Results showed substantial reductions in head hitting, eye gouging, and hand biting. Brief periods of time-out with the protective equipment were later made contingent on SIB and combined with a differential reinforcement procedure. Reduced levels of SIB was maintained with all subjects. Additionally, the amount of time during which the equipment was applied decreased as the SIB diminished. Experiment 2 evaluated the use of contingent protective equipment (the final condition in Experiment 1) when applied directly in the subjects' living units during the day. During Experiment 2, SIB remained at or below the levels found at the termination of Experiment 1. Finally, in an effort to assess the long-term effectiveness of the procedure, responsibility for implementation was given to the staff who were typically assigned to provide therapy to the subjects. Follow-up probe observations conducted up to 104 days after termination of the final experimental condition showed continued low levels of both SIB and equipment usage. Results of these experiments suggest that contingent protective equipment and differential reinforcement may be effective in reducing chronic self-injury.