A comparison of differential reinforcement of other behavior and response interruption and redirection on vocal stereotypy

Abstract

Vocal stereotypy is a common problem behavior among persons with autism spectrum disorder and can prove to be a fairly difficult behavior to treat. One of the main reasons that this behavior is often challenging is that it is usually maintained by the sensory consequences that it produces. Response interruption and redirection and differential reinforcement of other behavior are two treatments which have been shown to be effective in reducing stereotypy. RIRD is often a staff intensive procedure which can be difficult to implement and may not always be done with 100% procedural integrity. While DRO is an easier procedure for staff to implement it is not always as effective when used on its own. This study is a comparison of RIRD and DRO in the treatment of vocal stereotypy using an ABAB design, alternating the treatments during the B phase. Three students with autism spectrum disorder that exhibit high rates of vocal stereotypy were chosen as participants. Stereotypy decreased with both treatments for all three participants. For one participant RIRD was more successful throughout the entire study, while for the other two DRO was at times more effective but not consistently. Results for both DRO and RIRD are effective treatments for decreasing stereotypy in persons with autism spectrum disorder with RIRD as a possibly more reliable treatment.