The study showed that one of the components of an overcorrection procedure, oral hygiene, could eliminate pica (ingestion of inedible objects) by two retarded subjects when used alone. Although oral hygiene was the most effective component, each of the other components, tidying and personal hygiene, did decrease behavior. The oral hygiene…

Effects of a differential reinforcement of other behavior procedures (DRO) on the stereotypic responses and task performance of three autistic youth during dyadic instruction were examined. The procedures effectively reduced the stereotypic behavior of two children and substantially increased the task performance of the two lowest performance…

The relationship between changed or erratic behavior of nine Ss with Prader-Willi syndrome (a disorder involving retardation, obesity, and hypotonia) and their ingestion of excess kcalories from sucrose was examined. Results showed that out of 162 test correlations performed, only eight were significant, the number expected by chance. (Author)

Results showed that restraint, in comparison to no restraint, reduced the amount of body rocking. Also, restraint was judged to be generally more effective if it were applied when the S was bent over in the middle of the response sequence rather than administered while the S was sitting upright at the end of the response sequence. (Author)

One group (N=22) of community-based mentally retarded clients was initially on psychotropic medication. Their dosage was either increased, decreased, or kept the same following behavioral intervention. A second group (N=19) was placed on psychotropic medication following behavioral intervention. Results indicated that the behavioral-chemical…

The scope of psychoactive drug use within a statewide (Texas) institutional service delivery network was examined, with a focus on its role in the treatment of self-injurious behavior and other aberrant behaviors in the retarded. Insufficient use of behavioral technology and overuse of physical and chemical restraints were indicated. (Author/DB)

Treatment involving verbal reprimands, physical restraint, response interruption, and positive practice overcorrection resulted in rapid and dramatic decreases in the levels of pica and self-stimulation of a 4-year-old profoundly retarded girl. (CL)

After 20 severely retarded adults were moved from an institution to small community residences, consistent improvement was found for language development, domestic activity, responsibility, and social interaction. Syntheses of other studies suggested that the improvement represents a manifestation of behavior already in the client's repertoire…

Results suggested that although overcorrection is a valuable technique in reducing stereotyped behavior in profoundly retarded adults, the overcorrection responses (e.g., restitutional acts, positive practice, functional movement training) may not increase in the absence of specific reinforcement contingencies. (DLS)

Of 10 mildly retarded children (4 to 15 years old) with attention deficit disorders who were involved in an outpatient, double blind, active drug and placebo crossover study using methylphenidate, five children responded positively to active medication as measured by improvement in the Conners' rating forms for parents and teachers. (Author)

Rates of friendly behavior were significantly greater after six moderately/severely retarded aggressive institutionalized adults participated in socialization games. The games also significantly decreased interpersonal distance. Unfriendly behavior and inactivity were higher after placebo sessions (simple craft projects). (CL)

Wheelchair mobility training (contingent upon inappropriate stereotypic behavior) combined with social praise (contingent upon toy-play behavior) effectively reduced the inappropriate behavior of three nonambulatory, profoundly retarded Ss (14 and 15 years old) to near zero level. (Author)

An operant-conditioning technique was used to teach three handicapped children (three to five years old) exhibiting echolalia to respond appropriately to a series of questions. (Author)

Social feedback was investigated as a treatment strategy for reducing inappropriate verbalizations by a retarded adult in a vocational-training program. Treatment procedures were introduced as a combination of three components: praise for not verbalizing inappropriately, reprimands, and instruction. (Author)

A significant increase in correctly completed steps of the targeted behavior was noted for the independence-training group. (Author/DLS)