Training Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Be Compliant with an Oral Assessment

Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com

Y

16

Stimuli; Intervention; Autism; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Dentistry; Outcomes of Treatment; Examiners; Reinforcement; Stimulus Generalization; Compliance (Psychology); Training; Cues; Models; Allied Health Personnel

10.1016/j.rasd.2010.01.007

1750-9467

Little research has been conducted on teaching children with autism spectrum disorders to be compliant with dental procedures. This study evaluated a behavioral package to train children with autism spectrum disorders to be compliant with an 8 component oral assessment. After a dental hygienist performed an assessment pretest, noncompliance on steps of the assessment was targeted for training. A package of training procedures was implemented, including a preference assessment, priming DVD, various prompts, stimulus fading (i.e., fading in aversive stimuli), distracting stimuli, escape extinction, and differential reinforcement. Results showed the efficacy of the intervention procedures, maintenance of responding, and stimulus generalization of responses across examiners and from analog to "in vivo" settings. The study extends the generality of a model for the assessment and intervention of noncompliance to health care procedures by children with autism spectrum disorders. (Contains 5 figures and 1 table.)

As Provided

2010

EJ886541