Reducing an Adolescent’s Destructive Behavior during Bathroom Visits in a Residential Setting: Brief Report

ABSTRACT

As individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transition to adulthood, problem behavior may present restrictions to an independent lifestyle. In addition, problem behavior may interfere with performance of daily routines necessary for independent living. We developed a successful treatment for automatically reinforced toilet lid destruction of an adolescent with ASD during routine bathroom visits. The treatment was informed by a competing stimulus assessment (CSA) that identifies a preferred stimulus, the presentation of which is intended to compete with automatic reinforcement of problem behavior. Results indicated that access to the competing stimulus reduced the participant’s toilet lid destruction while in the bathroom, and these treatment gains maintained during long term follow-up visits.

KEYWORDS:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• automatic reinforcement
• competing stimulus assessment
• life skills
• problem behavior

Disclosure Statement

This study is preregistered at the Registry of Efficacy and Effectiveness (Rees): Identification 1852.1v2. We have no known Conflict of Interest to disclose.