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Using Functional Communication Training to Reduce Self-Injurious Behavior for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have a high risk of developing self-injurious behavior (SIB), which is often a result of deficits in communication skills. The use of functional communication training (FCT) to address SIB maintained by negative reinforcement among children with ASD is supported by an emerging trend of behavioral research. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of FCT on the SIB of children with ASD and to find out if the results would be maintained during periods of nonreinforcement. The results indicated significant reduction in SIB for all three participants and maintained for over two weeks following the withdrawal of the intervention. However, resurgence of SIB occurred when extinction was implemented for all participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorder At Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Maryam Alakhzami

  2. School of Education, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Morgan Chitiyo

  3. School of Education, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Morgan Chitiyo

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  1. Maryam Alakhzami
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  2. Morgan Chitiyo
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Contributions

The first author, MA, wrote the manuscript, provided data for Table 1 and Fig 1, and conducted all experimental analyses. The second author, MC, reviewed and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Maryam Alakhzami.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research Involving Human Participants and/or Animals

Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Duquesne University. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Alakhzami, M., Chitiyo, M. Using Functional Communication Training to Reduce Self-Injurious Behavior for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 52, 3586–3597 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05246-8

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