Effects of Nonverbal Social Disapproval on Attention-Maintained Spitting and Disruptive Vocalizing in a Child With Autism

Abstract

This study addressed attention-maintained problem behaviors (spitting and disruptive vocalizing) of a child with autism. The intervention procedures consisted of service providers cleaning up the presence of saliva and demonstrating a “quiet” cue when the child spit and vocalized respectively. In two single-case reversal designs, the procedures reduced both behaviors to low frequency. Factors responsible for intervention success are discussed.

Keywords

social disapproval nonverbal attention reversal design

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