ERIC Number: EJ796397
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0145-4455
EISSN: N/A
Use of a Mouth-Wiping Response to Reduce Drooling by Two Persons with Profound Developmental Disabilities
Lancioni, Giulio E.; Singh, Nirbhay N.; O'Reilly, Mark F.; Sigafoos, Jeff; Pichierri, Sabrina; Iaffaldano, Daniela; Latrofa, Alessandra; Oliva, Doretta
Behavior Modification, v32 n4 p540-547 2008
Two men with profound developmental disabilities used a mouth-wiping response instrumental to reduce drooling via a micro-switch-based program (i.e., a program in which the response was automatically monitored and followed by positive stimulation). The wiping response was performed via a napkin or a handkerchief placed inside a belt pocket. The micro-switch technology consisted of two mini-tilt sensors and a radio transmitter hidden inside the napkin, or an optic sensor and a radio transmitter fixed inside the belt pocket. The study was carried out according to a multiple baseline across participants and included a 3-month postintervention check. During the baseline, the participants' mean frequencies of mouth wiping were near zero, and mean percentages of wet chin intervals were about 45 and 50. During the intervention, the mean wiping frequencies increased to 1.6 and 1.9 per min, whereas the mean percentages of wet-chin intervals were mostly below 10. These values were maintained at the postintervention check. Implications of the findings and limitations of the study are discussed. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Intervals, Developmental Disabilities, Severe Mental Retardation, Responses, Males, Positive Reinforcement, Assistive Technology, Behavior Modification
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A