Response Interruption and DRL for the Reduction of Rapid Eating

Abstract

We assessed the efficacy of several procedures for reducing the rate of eating responses during mealtime by three institutionalized mentally retarded clients. A time-based (15 s) response interruption procedure was implemented which resulted in little change in eating responses for 2 of 3 subjects. A spaced-responding DRL 15-s procedure resulted in decreases in eating responses to target levels only after a prompting procedure was added. Procedures were evaluated using a multiple baseline across subjects design with assessment of generalization to nontreated meals. A change in eating behavior during breakfast occurred only after direct training in the breakfast setting. Maintenance data were collected at 1-and 5-month follow-up periods.

Using Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates to Reduce Children's Requests for Teacher Attention

“…It is possible (and probable) that rules speed up the effectiveness of the intervention, but the extent to which they do so is presently unclear. It also is interesting to note that the majority of studies with severely disabled participants have employed spaced‐responding DRL procedures (Lennox et al, 1987; Singh et al, 1981; Wright & Vollmer, 2002). Thus, further research is needed on the effectiveness of interval and full‐session DRL with severely disabled individuals.…”

“…This type of schedule, often referred to as spaced‐responding DRL in applied settings (Deitz, 1977), has been used to reduce rates of behavior across several response topographies and populations. For example, it has reduced rapid eating (Lennox, Miltenberger, & Donnelly, 1987; Wright & Vollmer, 2002) and stereotypy (Singh, Dawson, & Manning, 1981) in participants with profound developmental disabilities and inappropriate question asking in primary school children with behavioral disorders (Deitz, 1977).…”

Applied Behavior Analysis for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…That is, unlike with pure extinction, the individual still has some access to the reinforcer. However, DRO has been associated with aggression (Lennox, Miltenberger, & Donnelly, 1987) and emotional behavior . DRO has other noteworthy disadvantages.…”

Differential reinforcement of high rate behavior to increase the pace of self‐feeding

“…The latter behavior, pace of self-feeding (i.e., the individual accepts food but eats at an excessively rapid or slow pace), has been the focus of a limited amount of research. Although studies have evaluated methods of decreasing rapid self-feeding (Lennox, Miltenberger, & Donnelly, 1987;Wright & Vollmer, 2002), eating too slowly (i.e., dawdling) has very rarely been examined.…”