Assessment and treatment of stereotypy in infants at risk of ASD

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2020

First Committee Member

MacDonald, Rebecca

Second Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Third Committee Member

Ahearn, William

Abstract

"Individuals diagnosed with ASD often engage in stereotypic behavior that is challenging to treat due to difficulties isolating the maintaining reinforcer. The purpose of this study was to identify and treat motor stereotypy in an infant at risk of ASD. Although several studies have investigated the prevalence and topographies of stereotypy in young children, none have identified the age at which it emerges and treated it before one year of age. Non-physical redirection of stereotypy to toy play and reinforcement for toy engagement was implemented in a multiple baseline design across topographies of stereotypy. Results indicate decreases in all topographies of stereotypy to near-zero levels across the course of the study. These findings are discussed as they relate to the implications of identifying stereotypy in infancy and intervening as soon as it is identified."

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