Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different behavioral assessment procedures with the purpose of design a long-term assessment procedure that brings together the benefits observed. The study involved four adults with severe and profound intellectual disabilities and severe behavioral problems. A behavioral assessment has been carried out with Scatter Plot, Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence record sheets and, finally, The Observer XT. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of challenging behavior of each participant, by reviewing bio-psychosocial records, interviewing family and direct caregiver staff, as well as direct observation. A large inter-subject behavior variability and instability of intra-subject behavior were found, raising questions about the election of the period to evaluate. The first evaluation level highlighted information about stability of behavior, the second level stand out the context in which it occurs and the third level detailed the different topographies of each behavioral category. The results suggest the desirability of a continuous assessment by combining these three levels for adjusting to the specific characteristics of behavior. We suggest the need of designing a single behavioral assessment procedure that includes the benefits observed in each of the instruments used.
Highlights
Challenging behaviors are especially prevalent in adults with severe intellectual disabilities (ID), becoming one of the biggest challenges for researchers (Lowe et al, 2007) and for service providers
It has been estimated that the prevalence of challenging behaviors (CB) in people with learning disabilities has ranged from 10% (Emerson and Einfeld, 2011) to 15% (Holden and Gitlesen, 2006), increasing the likelihood of CB with higher levels of ID (Janssen et al, 2002)
CB in people with ID can be a serious threat to their health and safety, restricting the opportunities to integrate into community, producing stress in their families and Challenging Behaviors and Observer caregiver staff and drastically reducing opportunities to carry out an educational intervention
Summary
Challenging behaviors (self-injury, physical, or verbal aggression, destruction of objects, stereotyped behaviors, and social-offensive behaviors) are especially prevalent in adults with severe intellectual disabilities (ID), becoming one of the biggest challenges for researchers (Lowe et al, 2007) and for service providers. CB in people with ID can be a serious threat to their health and safety, restricting the opportunities to integrate into community, producing stress in their families and Challenging Behaviors and Observer caregiver staff and drastically reducing opportunities to carry out an educational intervention. They are in higher risk of abuses from those who support them (Verdugo and Gutiérrez, 2009; Poppes et al, 2010). The presence of stereotyped behavior in the persons can interfere with their adaptive responding and learning opportunities, cause health concerns and injuries, hamper their social image and their overall acceptance by others (Holburn et al, 2004)
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