Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Comprehensive Guide to Autism pp 2247–2262Cite as

Behavioral Treatment of Stereotypic Behavior in Children with Autism

  • Reference work entry

Abstract

Stereotypic behavior is a core diagnostic feature of children with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders. Although stereotypy does not appear to serve an obvious function, research indicates that many individuals with autism engage in this behavior because of the sensory consequences obtained for doing so. Functional behavior assessment allows treatment agents to identify the purpose or function of behavior; this information improves the effectiveness of a treatment and is an important component of treatment planning. The purpose of this chapter is to describe research-based behavioral treatment of stereotypic behavior in children with autism with a particular emphasis on the function stereotypy serves for the individual.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   1,199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   1,299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahearn WH, Clark KM, DeBar R, Florentino C. On the role of preference in response competition. J Appl Behav Anal. 2005;38:247–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ahearn WH, Clark KM, MacDonald RPF, Chung BI. Assessing and treating vocal stereotypy in children with autism. J Appl Behav Anal. 2007;40:263–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Athens ES, Vollmer TR, Sloman KN, St. Peter Pipkin C. An analysis of vocal stereotypy and therapist fading. J Appl Behav Anal. 2008;41:291–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berkson G, Davenport RKJ. Stereotyped movements of mental defectives. Am J Ment Defic. 1962;66(6):849–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bijou SW, Peterson RF, Ault MH. A method to integrate descriptive and experimental field studies at the level of data and empirical concepts. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968;1:175–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodfish JW, Symons FJ, Parker DE, Lewis MH. Varieties of repetitive behavior in autism: comparisons to mental retardation. J Autism Dev Disord. 2000;30:237–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Britton LN, Carr JE, Landaburu HJ, Romick KS. The efficacy of noncontingent reinforcement as treatment for automatically reinforced stereotypy. Behav Interv. 2002;17:93–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr EG, Horner RH, Turnbull AP, et al. Positive behavior support for people with developmental disabilities: a research synthesis. Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassella MD, Sidener TM, Sidener DW, Progar PR. Response interruption and redirection for vocal stereotypy in children with autism: a systematic replication. J Appl Behav Anal. 2011;44:169–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Catania AC. Learning. 4th Interim ed. New York: Sloan Publishing; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen IL, Schmidt-Lackner S, Romanczyk R, Sudhalter V. The PDD Behavior Inventory: a rating scale for assessing response to intervention in children with pervasive developmental disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2003;33(1):31–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper JO, Heron TE, Heward WL. Applied behavior analysis. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham AB, Schreibman L. Stereotypy in autism: the importance of function. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2008;2(3):469–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DiGennaro Reed FD, Hirst JM, Hyman SR. Assessment and treatment of stereotypic behavior in children with autism and other developmental disabilities: a thirty year review. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2012;6:422–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durand VM, Carr EG. Social influences on “self-stimulatory” behavior: analysis and treatment application. J Appl Behav Anal. 1987;20(2):119–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Durand VM, Crimmins DB. Identifying the variables maintaining self-injurious behavior. J Autism Dev Disord. 1988;18:99–117.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellingson SA, Miltenberger RG, Stricker J, Galensky TL, Garlinghouse M. Functional assessment and intervention for challenging behaviors in the classroom by general classroom teachers. J Posit Behav Interv. 2000;2(2):85–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • English CL, Anderson CM. Evaluation of the treatment utility of the analog functional analysis and the structured descriptive assessment. J Posit Behav Interv. 2006;8:212–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein LJ, Taubman MT, Lovaas OI. Changes in self-stimulatory behaviors with treatment. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1985;13:281–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Esbensen AJ, Seltzer MM, Lam KS, Bodfish JW. Age-related differences in restricted repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2009;39:57–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falcomata TS, Roane HS, Hovanetz AN, Kettering TL. An evaluation of response cost in the treatment of inappropriate vocalizations maintained by automatic reinforcement. J Appl Behav Anal. 2004;37(1):83–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falcomata TS, Roane HS, Feeney BJ, Stephenson KM. Assessment and treatment of elopement maintained by access to stereotypy. J Appl Behav Anal. 2010;43:513–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Favell JE, Azrin NH, Baumeister AA, et al. The treatment of self-injurious behavior. Behav Ther. 1982;13:529–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goh H, Iwata BA, Shore BA, et al. An analysis of the reinforcing properties of hand mouthing. J Appl Behav Anal. 1995;28:269–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman S, Wang C, Salgado MW, Green PE, Kim M, Rapin I. Motor stereotypies in children with autism and other developmental disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008;51:30–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haley JL, Heick PF, Luiselli JK. Use of an antecedent intervention to decrease vocal stereotypy of a student with autism in the general education classroom. Child Fam Behav Ther. 2010;32:311–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanley GP, Iwata BA, McCord BE. Functional analysis of problem behavior: a review. J Appl Behav Anal. 2003;36(2):147–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Higbee TS, Chang S, Endicott K. Noncontingent access to preferred sensory stimuli as a treatment for automatically reinforced stereotypy. Behav Interv. 2005;20:177–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata BA, Dorsey MF, Slifer KJ, Bauman KE, Richman GS. Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. J Appl Behav Anal. 1982/1994;27:197–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim SH, Lord C. Restricted and repetitive behaviors in toddlers and preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders based on the autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS). Autism Res. 2010;3(4):162–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knoster T. Practical application of functional behavioral assessment in schools. J Assoc Pers Sev Handicaps. 2000;25:201–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koegel RL, Covert A. The relationship of self-stimulation to learning in autistic children. J Appl Behav Anal. 1972;5:381–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koegel RL, Firestone PB, Kramme KW, Dunlap G. Increasing spontaneous play by suppressing self-stimulation in autistic children. J Appl Behav Anal. 1974;7:521–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaGrow SJ, Repp AC. Stereotypic responding: a review of intervention research. Am J Ment Defic. 1984;88(6):595–609.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lang R, O’Reilly M, Sigafoos J, et al. Enhancing the effectiveness of a play intervention by abolishing the reinforcing value of stereotypy: a pilot study. J Appl Behav Anal. 2009;42:889–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lang R, Koegel LK, Ashbaugh K, Regester A, Ence W, Smith W. Physical exercise and individuals with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2010a;4:565–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang R, O’Reilly M, Sigafoos J, et al. The effects of an abolishing operation intervention component on play skills, challenging behavior, and stereotypy. Behav Modif. 2010b;34:267–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaRue R. Introduction for the special issue on functional assessment and treatment development. Behav Anal Today. 2010;11:1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeMonda BC, Holtzer R, Goldman S. Relationship between executive functions and more stereotypies in children with autistic disorder. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2012;6:1099–106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loftin RR, Odom SL, Lantz JF. Social interaction and repetitive motor behaviors. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008;38:1124–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord C, Risi S, Lambrecht L, Cook EH, Leventhal BL, DiLavore P, et al. The autism diagnostic observation schedule – generic: a standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2000;30(3):205–23. PubMed: 11055457.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lovaas OI, Koegel R, Simmons JQ, Long JS. Some generalization and follow-up measures on autistic children in behavior therapy. J Appl Behav Anal. 1973;6:131–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald R, Green G, Mansfield R, Geckeler A, Gardenier N, Anderson J. Stereotypy in young children with autism and typically developing children. Res Dev Disabil. 2007;28:266–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martens BK, Witt JC, Daly III EJ, Vollmer TR. Behavior analysis: theory and practice in educational settings. In: Reynolds CR, Gutkin TB, editors. The handbook of school psychology. 3rd ed. New York: Wiley; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson JL, Kiely SL, Bamburg JW. The effect of stereotypies on adaptive skills as assessed with the DASH-II and Vineland adaptive behavior scales. Res Dev Disabil. 1997;18:471–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDougle CJ, Holmes JP, Carlson DC, Pelton GH, Cohen DJ, Price LH. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of risperidone in adults with autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatr. 1998;55(7):633–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDougle CJ, Scahill L, Aman MG, et al. Risperidone for the core symptom domains of autism: results from the study by the autism network of the research units on pediatric psychopharmacology. Am J Psychiatr. 2005;162:1142–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miguel CF, Clark K, Tereshko L, Ahearn WH. The effects of response interruption and redirection and sertraline on vocal stereotypy. J Appl Behav Anal. 2009;42:883–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison K, Rosales-Ruiz J. The effect of object preferences on task performance and stereotypy in a child with autism. Res Dev Disabil. 1997;18:127–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthugovindan D, Singer H. Motor stereotypy disorders. Curr Opin Neurol. 2009;22:131–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill RE, Horner RH, Albin RW, Sprague JR, Storey K, Newton JS. Functional assessment and program development for problem behavior: a practical handbook. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Reilly M, Edrisinha C, Sigafoos J, Lancioni G, Machalicek W, Antonucci M. The effects of presession attention on subsequent attention-extinction and alone conditions. J Appl Behav Anal. 2007;40(4):731–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piazza CC, Adelinis JD, Hanley GP, Goh H, Delia MD. An evaluation of the effects of matched stimuli on behaviors maintained by automatic reinforcement. J Appl Behav Anal. 2000;33:13–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rapp JT. Further evaluation of methods to identify matched stimulation. J Appl Behav Anal. 2007;40:73–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rapp JT, Patel MR, Ghezzi PM, O’Flaherty CH, Titterington CJ. Establishing stimulus control of vocal stereotypy displayed by young children with autism. Behav Interv. 2009;24:85–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ringdahl JE, Andelman MS, Kitsukawa K, Winborn LC, Barretto A, Wacker DP. Evaluation and treatment of covert stereotypy. Behav Interv. 2002;17:43–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roantree CF, Kennedy CH. A paradoxical effect of presession attention on stereotypy: antecedent attention as an establishing, not an abolishing, operation. J Appl Behav Anal. 2006;39:381–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rojahn J, Matson JL, Lott JL, Esbensen AJ, Smalls Y. The behavior problems inventory: an instrument for the assessment of self-injury, stereotyped behavior and aggression/destruction in individuals with developmental disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord. 2001;31:577–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rojahn J, Schroeder SR, Hoch TA. Self-injurious behavior in intellectual disabilities. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal-Malek A, Mitchell S. Brief report: the effects of exercise on the self-stimulatory behaviors and positive responding of adolescents with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1997;27(2):193–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sidener TM, Carr JE, Firth AM. Superimposition and withholding of edible consequences as treatment for automatically reinforced stereotypy. J Appl Behav Anal. 2005;38:121–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singer HS. Motor stereotypies. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2009;16(2):77–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith EA, Van Houten R. A comparison of the characteristics of self-stimulatory behaviors in “normal” children and children with developmental delays. Res Dev Disabil. 1996;17(4):253–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor BA, Hoch H, Weissman M. The analysis and treatment of vocal stereotypy in a child with autism. Behav Interv. 2005;20:229–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson TS, Skinner CH. Encyclopedia of school psychology. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum; 2004.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wilke AE, Tarbox J, Dixon DR, Kenzer AL, Bishop MR, Kakavand H. Indirect functional assessment of stereotypy in children with autism spectrum disorders. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2012;6:824–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Behavioral Science, 4001 Dole Human Development Center, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, 66045-7555, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Florence D. DiGennaro Reed

  2. 4001 Dole Human Development Center, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, 66045-7555, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Jason M. Hirst & Sarah R. Jenkins

Authors
  1. Florence D. DiGennaro Reed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jason M. Hirst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sarah R. Jenkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florence D. DiGennaro Reed .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, Faculty of Science & Technology, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Nutritional Sciences Division and Genomics Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Reed, F.D.D., Hirst, J.M., Jenkins, S.R. (2014). Behavioral Treatment of Stereotypic Behavior in Children with Autism. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V., Martin, C. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Autism. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_137

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_137

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4787-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4788-7

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation