Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
Open Access

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Nowadays the population of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders(ASD) are increasing. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022. With these growing population, various causes, problem behaviors or types of therapies for ASD are on the rise. However, most studies about therapies for ASD focus to social or academical issues, not about the stereotyped behavior which is one of the greatest problems for ASD child. This study was investigated to examine the effects of differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors on the stereotyped behaviors in child Autism Spectrum Disorders(ASD). A child(aged 10 years old) with ASD was participated with the intervention of differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors on her stereotyped behavior with ABAB reversal design. The target stereotyped behavior for this study was related to using hands, therefore incompatible behavior for differential reinforcement was designed as appropriate play behaviors by playing with toys. The toys, used for this intervention, include tactile based toys, slinky, push-pop, playdoh, puzzle, block, stamp, sticker book, etc. The intervention was maintained from baseline to intervention, as well as maintenance condition in sequence. The data of this study depict that the stereotyped behavior for the participant was decreased significantly comparing to baseline and intervention. In addition, appropriate play behaviors as incompatible behaviors were increased in intervention and maintenance. The results of this study imply that differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors is effective to decrease the stereotyped behaviors, and the toys used for play behaviors as incompatible behaviors could be improved as potential reinforcers for child.

Biography

Yoonjung Kim has her expertise in development and passion in improving early age of ASD child. She graduated University of Massachusetts in Boston, and provided group counseling, health care program in group home, residential organization, and regional hospital. She has built her expertise years of experience in research, field, providing therapies and training talented individuals in ABA therapy institution. The institution provides therapies to early age of ASD child with ABA ,speech and social therapies.