Elsevier

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Volume 5, Issue 3, July–September 2011, Pages 1053-1058
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The effects of a brushing procedure on stereotypical behavior

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.11.011Get rights and content

Abstract

In this study we analyzed the effects of a brushing protocol on stereotyped behavior of a young boy with autism. First, a functional analysis was conducted which showed that the participant's stereotypy was maintained by automatic reinforcement. Next, the Wilbarger Protocol, a brushing intervention, was implemented. An ABA design was implemented in which the participant was observed during four phases: (a) baseline, prior to the administration of the brushing protocol; (b) week 3 of implementation of the brushing protocol; (c) week 5 of implementation; and (d) 6 months after the discontinuation of the brushing protocol. Findings suggest that the brushing protocol had no marked affect on levels of stereotypy.

Research highlights

▶ Analyzed the effects of a body-brushing protocol on stereotypy of a boy with autism. ▶ A functional analysis concluded stereotypy was maintained by automatic reinforcement. ▶ The Wilbarger Protocol was implemented and data was collected during 5 weeks. ▶ An ABA design was implemented. ▶ Findings suggest that the brushing protocol had no marked affect on stereotypy.

Section snippets

Participant and target behavior

Aiden, a 4-year-old Caucasian male, participated in the study. Aiden was from a two-parent home and he had two siblings. Aiden was professionally diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 years. Aiden did not attend school, but received approximately 40 h of one-to-one in-home behavioral therapy per week. Aiden was nonverbal and communicated using gestures to request preferred objects. According to therapist and parent report, Aiden engaged in high levels of stereotypical behavior. Three specific

Results

Fig. 1 displays the results of the functional analysis. Visual analysis concludes that Aiden's engages in stereotypy in relatively high levels across conditions. Stereotypy was most frequent in the tangible condition (M = 81%; range = 60–100%). However, stereotypy was also frequent in the alone condition (M = 56%; range = 47–63%). While visual analysis may conclude that Aiden's stereotypy is maintained by access to tangibles, only finger flicking increased during the tangible condition. As identified

Discussion

In the current study, a standardized treatment protocol for application of brushing, known as the Wilbarger Protocol, was administered to a child with autism. The goal of the intervention was to decrease the level of stereotypy displayed by the child, which was hypothesized to serve an automatic reinforcing function based on the data from a functional analysis. The brushing protocol was implemented daily by the child's mother and one-to-one therapist. The participant's level of stereotypy did

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