Effects of relocation on the communication and challenging behaviours of four people with severe learning disabilities

Abstract

SummaryThe present paper describes an evaluation of the effects of relocation on the challenging and communicative behaviours of four individuals with severe learning disabilities who moved from a hospital for people with learning disabilities into a community project home. The study was longitudinal, spanning a period of 3 years, and used the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, the Checklist of Challenging Behaviours and direct observations of the participants' behaviours. There was an overall decrease in the individuals' adaptive behaviours and inactivity levels, whilst there were increases in their communicative and challenging behaviours. These results are not easily accounted for by the Communication Hypothesis of Problem Behaviour, which would suggest an inverse relationship between functional communication and challenging behaviour. Alternative explanations which may account for the results obtained are considered. Somewhat surprisingly, it is concluded that the participants appeared to increase all their interactions within the community environment, including their communication and challenging behaviours.