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Brief Report: Effects of Pressure Vest Usage on Engagement and Problem Behaviors of a Young Child with Developmental Delays

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of wearing a pressure vest for a young boy with developmental delays. An A-B-A withdrawal design was used to examine the relation between wearing the pressure vest and child behaviors during a preschool art activity. Although the data showed moderate variability, no systematic differences were found in child engagement when the vest was worn and when the vest was not worn and problem behavior increased when the vest was being worn. These results are discussed in the context of the study limitations. Implications for future research are provided.

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Acknowledgments

Leslie Good’s involvement in this study was in partial fulfillment of a master of education degree from Vanderbilt University. The authors would like to thank Ruth Wolery, Michelle Wyatt, and the teachers and assistant teachers at the Susan Gray School in Nashville, Tennessee for their assistance with this study. This project was supported by the US Department of Education Office of Special Education through an ESCE Doctoral Leadership Training Grant (H325D030012).

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Correspondence to Brian Reichow.

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Reichow, B., Barton, E.E., Good, L. et al. Brief Report: Effects of Pressure Vest Usage on Engagement and Problem Behaviors of a Young Child with Developmental Delays. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 1218–1221 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0726-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0726-3

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