Exploring the Efficacy of Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Oral Care Providers to Administer Oral Care Procedures to Children with Autism

Author

Maija Marika Graudins, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

5-1-2011

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Behavior Analysis and Therapy

First Advisor

Rehfeldt, Ruth Anne

Second Advisor

DeMattei, Ronda

Abstract

Various empirical investigations have focused on training children with autism as well as typically developing children to be compliant with oral assessments. But few studies have evaluated strategies on how to train the oral care providers to be able to work with children with autism for increased compliance. Using a multiple baseline design, the current investigation evaluated behavioral skills training procedures to teach three oral care providers basic behavior analytic skills, such as differential reinforcement, positive and negative reinforcement, and escape extinction, to implement while performing oral care procedures on children with autism. The procedures of the behavioral skills training included instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. This training resulted in an improvement from baseline performances for each participant in steps completed correctly, as well as various decreased levels of problem behavior displayed by the children. These results suggest that behavioral skills training is an effective way of teaching oral care providers basic behavior analytic techniques to use while working with children with autism.