Aggression maintained by access to physical attention was examined using two preparations of a functional analysis, after which additional assessment was carried out to identify stimuli that competed with problem behavior. The participant, Ted, was a 13-year-old boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, who attended a private specialized education facility because of underdeveloped communication skills and problem behavior. At the time of the study, his aggression had become more prevalent, unpredictable, and elevated in intensity. Following assessment, a noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) intervention using competing stimuli was implemented to reduce rates of Ted's increasingly unmanageable aggression. Results indicated that implementation of the NCR intervention was followed by decreased rates, more predictable patterns, and diminished intensity of aggressive behavior.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by the virus, SARS-CoV-2, and it can affect individuals differently. Some people may experience mild symptoms while others may experience severe illness or death. Vaccines that are authorized to protect against COVID-19 help the human body develop immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the risk of COVID-19 and its potentially serious complications. We evaluated the effects of graduated exposure and differential reinforcement to teach individuals with autism to comply with the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine. All three participants had a history of engaging in challenging behavior during previous vaccination procedures. Following the intervention, all participants successfully received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The results of this study support previous research on graduated exposure and differential reinforcement as a treatment for increasing compliance with medical procedures for individuals with autism.
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