The study of use of the drug fenfluramine with four autistic children (7-20 years old) indicated no significant side effects, a reduction in some deviant behaviors, and an improvement in activity level/attention span. (Author/DB)

The rates and durations of stereotypic behaviors in four adolescents with severe mental retardation were measured during two daily vocational training sessions and during contiguous periods of leisure in special education classrooms. The major differences in stereotypy between leisure and vocational training were differences in episode length.…

A study examined the effects of progressive relaxation training on the disruptive behaviors of a 12-year-old boy with autism. The participant acquired progressive relaxation skills, displayed more relaxed behavior after performing the procedures, and showed a decrease in the duration of his disruptive behavior upon completing progressive…

A study found no differences in the effectiveness of single- and multiple-work auditory prompts in teaching five adolescents with moderate mental retardation to transition through a chain of vocational tasks into work settings. Self-operated auditory prompts were effective for teaching workers to manage their own task change behavior. (Author/CR)

Three severely mentally retarded adolescents who exhibited repetitive hand movements were assessed during baseline (reinforcement for on-task behavior) and sensory change (rings on fingers of both hands, rings and reinforcement, and faded rings) conditions. Sensory change effectively reduced the target responses for up to four hours. (Author/JDD)

Data are presented to document the initial dramatic reduction in self-injurious behavior and the ongoing effectiveness of contingent electric shock treatment of an adolescent. Positive effects of the intervention are documented, as is information on the interaction of a medical condition, psychoactive mediation status, and staff changes. (Contains…

This study of three individuals (ages 12-14) with profound mental retardation found that visual screening was more effective than thioridazine in reducing stereotypy and increasing social behavior. Thioridazine produced modest stereotypy reductions and minor social behavior increases, with a higher dose slightly more effective than a lower dose…

The effectiveness of a video feedback and self-management package was assessed with various inappropriate behaviors exhibited by six adolescents with mild mental retardation. Participants evaluated their own videotaped behavior. Results showed a statistically significant decrease of the percentage intervals of inappropriate behavior when the…

A study investigated whether computer touch-screen technology could improve the attentional skills of three adolescents with severe mental retardation. Initially, prior reinforcement contingencies of individual stimuli failed to control their attention. Extended exposure to single stimulus training and conflict compounds, however, alleviated…

A say-do-report correspondence training was implemented to break the functions of present conditions given by a history of contingencies maintaining chronic inadequate patterns of behavior in two adolescents with mental retardation and language deficits. All behaviors changed and were maintained, even after eliminating the components involved in…