Analysis and Treatment of Finger Sucking

Abstract

We analyzed and treated the finger sucking of 2 developmentally typical children aged 7 and 10 years. The functional analysis revealed that the finger sucking of both children was exhibited primarily during alone conditions, suggesting that the behavior was maintained by automatic reinforcement. An extended analysis provided support for this hypothesis and demonstrated that attenuation of stimulation produced by the finger sucking resulted in behavior reductions for both children. Treatment consisted of having each child wear a glove on the relevant hand during periods when he or she was alone. Use of the glove produced zero levels of finger sucking for 1 participant, whereas only moderate reductions were obtained for the other. Subsequently, an awareness enhancement device was used that produced an immediate reduction in finger sucking.

Functional Analysis and Treatment of Problem Behavior Evoked by Noise

“…Recent studies have documented the aver-sive properties of noise by demonstrating that an audible tone delivered contingent upon the occurrence of habit behavior can function as punishment (Ellingson et al, 2000;Rapp, Miltenberger, & Long, 1998). However, few studies have directly examined the extent to which noise can serve as an EO for problem behavior, and none of these studies included treatment data.…”

Evaluation of an Awareness Enhancement Device for the Treatment of Thumb Sucking in Children

“…This device successfully treated hand-to-head habit behaviors (i.e., finger sucking and hair pulling) for 2 individuals, but it was evaluated only after other interventions were ineffective (Ellingson et al, 2000;Rapp et al, 1998). Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of the AED on the thumb sucking of two children within a more rigorous experimental design.…”

The analysis and treatment of problem behavior evoked by auditory stimulation

“…Some studies have documented the aversive properties of noise by demonstrating that an audible tone, delivered contingent upon the occurrence of problem behavior, can function as punishment for that behavior (Ellingson, Miltenberger, Stricker, Garlinghouse, Roberts, & Galensky, 2000). O'Reilly, Lacey, and Lancioni (2000) examined the influence of background noise on levels of problem behavior, and pain, for a child with Williams syndrome.…”