Treating meal refusal related to competing protective equipment

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2016

First Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Second Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Third Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda

Abstract

"Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder often engage in self-injurious behavior that can cause tissue damage. Protective equipment is sometimes used to decrease the severity of tissue damage when self-injury occurs. However, wearing protective equipment may be incompatible with some forms of adaptive behavior, such as meal consumption. The purpose of the present analysis was to identify a treatment for meal refusal in two adolescent males diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder who wore protective equipment that competed with meal consumption. Three treatments were evaluated in the present study: one involved manipulation of the reinforcing efficacy of the meal, a second involved modifying protective equipment to allow continued access during meal presentation, and the third involved arranging additional positive reinforcement for eating in the absence of protective equipment. Modifying protective equipment was effective for both participants, and manipulating the reinforcing efficacy of the meal was effective for one participant. The final treatment was only evaluated with one participant, and it was effective at increasing meal consumption."

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