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Functional analysis and intervention for breath holding

L Kern1, J E Mauk, T J Marder

  • 1University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Breath-holding episodes in a child with Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome were analyzed. The behavior functioned to gain attention, and intervention decreased its frequency.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral analysis
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Pediatric medicine

Background:

  • Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetic disorder associated with developmental delays and distinctive facial features.
  • Breath-holding episodes can be a challenging behavior in children with developmental disabilities, impacting their quality of life and care.
  • Understanding the function of such behaviors is crucial for effective intervention.

Observation:

  • A 7-year-old girl diagnosed with severe mental retardation and Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome exhibited frequent breath-holding episodes.
  • These episodes were observed to occur in specific contexts, suggesting a potential function related to environmental interactions.

Findings:

  • Functional analysis revealed that breath-holding episodes served an operant function, primarily to gain access to social attention.

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  • The behavior was reinforced by adult attention, indicating a learned response to environmental cues.

    • Implications:

    • Intervention strategies targeting the function of the behavior are effective in managing breath-holding episodes.
    • A multi-component intervention including extinction, scheduled attention, and a picture card communication system significantly reduced the frequency of breath-holding.
    • This case highlights the importance of individualized, function-based behavioral interventions for children with Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome and severe mental retardation.