Lang et al published in the recent number of Behavior Modification a study on abolishing operations intervention to reduce stereotypy and challenging behavior during play skills intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Finding that when children with ASD were allowed a period were they freely could engage in stereotypic behavior before intervention, the level of stereotypy and challenging behavior were lower and funcional play skills were higher during intervention.
The play intervention included modeling, promping, and reinforcing play behavior i addition to redriecting stereotypy and challenging behavior to apporpriate play behaviors. The study researched te effect of adding a reinfocer-abolsining element would increase this research-based intervention´s effect.
Based on this study the researchers suggest two points; first, that the described play intervention is potentially effecktive, and secondly that when a play intervention is planned for children who frequently display stereotypic behavior is may be beneficial to allow a period were children can freely display stereotypy before the intervention.
All working or living with children with autism recognize the diagnostic feature of repetitive and invariant behavior. And the research on interventions for such behavioral have been somewhat limited.
In the current volume of Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis Napolitano, Smith, Zarcone, Goodkin and McAdam have published research on increasing response diversity in children with autism. Their intervention used a lag reinforcement schedule (reinforce responses different from previous) to increase the diversity. Some of the participants in this study also received prompting and additional teaching.
This procedure increased diversity on block building with the participants, indication that lag reinforcement schedules may be useful in increasing diversity.
Researchers from the University of Rochester have conducted a randimozed controll study on GFCF diett and preschool children with autism. Andaccording to the researchers this is the bestcontrolled diet study in autism to date. And this study showed no effect of elimination diett on childrens behavior, sleep or bowel patters.
This study also controlled for other interventions, and all children recieved EIBI during the study.is to ensure the measurement of diett effects. Althougt this study showed no effect, this do not rule our the possibililty that som groups of children with autism will benefit from dietary changes.
Link to Science Daily
Wellspring runs a blog where they frequently publish ineresting issues on autism and applied behavior analysis, both for families and professionals.
In their most recent blog post they have published some good tips for parents, so I stongly recommend visiting their blog, Wellspring blog
Boyd, Odom, Humphreys and Sam have published a special article in this issue of Journal of Early Intervention discussing early warning signs for autism spectrum disorders and highlights appropriate focused interventions and comprehensive treatment models.
In their discussion of early warnings signs the authors provides a comprehensive review of research done in the field of early signs of autism and autism spectrum disorder. And in this discussion also highlights some of the most widely used screening tools, and diagnostic tools.
In their exploration of interventions for infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorders, they build on current knowledge on evidence based practice for preschool children with ASD, but highlights the interventions designed or explicitly adapted for infants and toddlers with ASD.
The authors conclude by pointing out the challenges of lack of scientific data on interventions for infants and toddlers, and points out that while additional interventions emerge, professionals should use their wisdom in selecting and adopting interventions effective for older children with autism spectrum disorders.
Link to the article.