Abstract
Hand mouthing is a common and often chronic behavior problem exhibited by individuals who have mental retardation. The prevalence of hand mouthing is highest among individuals who have profound multiple disabilities. Individuals with profound multiple disabilities also have extensive heath care needs. Treatment procedures designed to reduce rates of hand mouthing must be integrated with all other services care providers perform for these individuals. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention designed to simultaneously increase the rate of engagement with alternative activities and reduce the rate of hand mouthing with a group of individuals who demonstrated chronic hand mouthing behavior. Two groups of three individuals who engaged in chronic hand mouthing served as participants. Results indicated that a single therapist could implement the intervention with up to three individuals simultaneously. Five of the six participants displayed reduced rates of hand mouthing and increased rates of engagement with alternative activities. These treatment effects were successfully maintained during daily treatment sessions conducted by direct care providers who were taught the intervention procedures. Usefulness of this strategy and future research needs are discussed.
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