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Promoting Adaptive Hand Responding and Reducing Face Hiding in a Woman with Profound Developmental Disabilities Using Microswitch Technology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 September 2006

Giulio E. Lancioni
Affiliation:
University of Bari, Italy
Angela Smaldone
Affiliation:
University of Bari, Italy
Mark F. O'Reilly
Affiliation:
University of Texas at Austin, USA
Nirbhay N. Singh
Affiliation:
ONE Research Institute, USA
Jeff Sigafoos
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Australia
Doretta Oliva
Affiliation:
Lega F. D'Oro Research Centre, Italy
Andrea Bosco
Affiliation:
University of Bari, Italy

Abstract

We assessed the use of a microswitch cluster (i.e. a combination of two micro-switches) plus contingent stimulation for promoting adaptive responding and reducing aberrant behaviour in a woman with profound developmental disabilities. The woman was initially taught an adaptive hand response that activated a pressure microswitch and produced preferred stimuli. Subsequently, her hand response led to preferred stimuli only if it occurred free from face hiding (i.e. aberrant behaviour detected through a mercury microswitch). The study also included a 3-month post-intervention and generalization check, and a social validation assessment. Data showed that the woman increased her adaptive responding, learned to perform this responding largely free from aberrant behaviour, and maintained and generalized the new performance across settings. Forty-five psychology students provided positive social validation of the woman's new performance and the use of microswitch-cluster technology.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

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