Brief functional analysis of repetitive verbal behavior (vocal stereotypy) for an adult with acquired brain injury

Abstract

The behavior analytic method of functional analysis (FA) is a process for identifying behavior-environment functional relations. Some research indicates the use of FA procedures to determine the environmental factors that maintain odd or inappropriate verbal behavior. The current study demonstrates the use of an FA to identify environmental influences on repetitive verbal behavior for an adult with acquired brain injury (ABI).A brief FA of repetitive verbal behavior was conducted in an outpatient program for individuals with ABI. Four conditions were alternated in a multielement single-case experimental design. Data were collected across conditions to determine if specific contextual variables differentially influenced the occurrence of repetitive verbal behavior.Data revealed increased occurrences of repetitive verbal behavior in a test condition that included contingent attention.Specific environmental factors were identified as sources of control for repetitive verbal behavior. The results of this case report support the use of FA for repetitive verbal behavior exhibited by individuals with ABI.

Functional analysis of problem behavior: A 40‐year review

“…A setting other than those listed in Table 2 was identified in 17 studies. Some examples of other settings included an adult day center for medical and social services (Trahan et al, 2014), a home that specialized in supporting adults with dementia (Sharp et al, 2021), a brain injury rehabilitation day program (Strohmeier et al, 2015), and a local pediatric clinic (Wacker et al, 2013). Overall, combined results show that the most common settings for functional analyses are the school (33.2%), followed by outpatient clinic (28.8%), inpatient hospital unit (27.1%), home (13.4%), institution (10.5%), vocational program (3.4%), and other (2.2%).…”

“…A setting other than those listed in Table 2 was identified in studies. Some examples of other settings included an adult day center for medical and social services (Trahan et al, 2014), a home that specialized in supporting adults with dementia (Sharp et al, 2021), a brain injury rehabilitation day program (Strohmeier et al, 2015), and a local pediatric clinic (Wacker et al, 2013). Overall, combined results show 1 9 6 1 -1 9 6 5 1 9 6 6 -1 9 7 0 1 9 7 1 -1 9 7 5 1 9 7 6 -1 9 8 0 1 9 8 1 -1 9 8 5 1 9 8 6 -1 9 9 0 1 9 9 1 -1 9 9 5 1 9 9 6 -2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 -2 0 0 5 2 0 0 6 -2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 -2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 -2 0 0 and increasing from that reported by Hanley et al (4.3%).…”

“…This may reflect the funding and training priorities described above or indicate a shortcoming in the methodology. Related to the latter, more application of indirect and descriptive (sometimes involving self-monitoring)-but not experimental-assessments can be seen in various domains commonly affecting neurotypical populations, including gambling (gambling functional assessment; Dixon & Johnson, 2007), substance use (e.g., ecological momentary assessment; Stinson et al, 2022), and depression (functional analytic psychotherapy; Kanter et al, 2017). It is difficult to speculate whether extensions of experimental functional analysis methodology would be helpful in these and other domains commonly experienced in neurotypical populations.…”