Education Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Journal
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities
Volume
28
Issue
2
First Page
267
Last Page
288
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-015-9465-x
Abstract
Children with Down syndrome frequently display repetitive behavior including unusual routines, rituals, and stereotypy. Literature on intervention for repetitive behavior in individuals with Down syndrome frequently includes aversive procedures and interventions not informed by functional assessments. We used an analogue functional analysis to evaluate reinforcers maintaining repetitive behavior in 3 children with Down syndrome. Following identification of automatic functions, we used an ABAB design and a multiple-baseline design to demonstrate the effectiveness of differential reinforcement of other behavior in reducing repetitive behavior. DRO was effective in decreasing repetitive behavior and, for one participant, repetitive behavior remained low at 1, 2, and 3-month follow-up sessions. This study extends current functional analysis methodologies to decrease repetitive behavior for learners with Down syndrome.
Citation of this paper:
Neil, N., & Jones, E. A. (2016). Repetitive behavior in children with Down Syndrome: Functional analysis and intervention. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 28(2), 267-288. doi: 10.1007/s10882-015-9465-x
Notes
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-015-9465-x