Modification of Self-Injurious Behavior

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Abstract
Although the application of contingently applied protective equipment represents a promising approach to the treatment of self-injurious behavior, limited experimental evaluation of such methodology has been performed. The present study examined the effects of using contingent protective equipment to control multiple forms of self-injury in a 161/2-year-old developmentally disabled boy who was both deaf and blind. The program entailed applying a padded helmet and mittens for a predefined duration whenever targeted self-injurious responses were emitted. Data on self-injury were recorded throughout the boy's daily schedule in a residential facility within the context of an ABAB single-case design. Results indicated that the program of contingently applied protective equipment produced marked decreases in the rate of self-injury and that low levels of responding were maintained during 2-and 6-month follow-up assessments. A social validation questionnaire revealed that staff members judged the treatment program to be an effective and acceptable method of intervention. Critical issues regarding the implementation of contingent protective equipment are discussed.