The Effects of Response Interruption and Redirection (Rird) and Differential Reinforcement on Vocal Stereotypy and Appropriate Vocalizations

Abstract

The relation between contextually appropriate vocalizations (AV) and vocal stereotypy (VS) has yet to be established within the response interruption and redirection (RIRD) literature. RIRD may promote AV by suppressing VS and/or by functioning as incompatible responses. The occurrence of VS and AV was assessed during baseline, RIRD alone, and RIRD combined with a differential reinforcement system for AV (RIRD + DRI) for a 5-year-old child with autism. Results showed an increase in AV once RIRD was implemented and further increases in AV and decreases in stereotypy when the token system of reinforcement for AV was implemented.

The Effects of Motor and Vocal Response Interruption and Redirection on Vocal Stereotypy and Appropriate Vocalizations

“…These results are consistent with previous findings (Ahrens et al, 2011) that suggest that the topography of the demands is not a significant variable in the effectiveness of RIRD. It is possible that vocal demands presented during VRIRD generated (vocal) responses that were incompatible with vocal stereotypy (Ahearn et al, 2007;Dickman et al, 2012). However, VRIRD did not seem to be more effective than MRIRD across participants.…”

“…Thus, this method of data collection may not have captured every occurrence of vocal stereotypy. As responses to vocal demands may directly compete with vocal stereotypy, it is possible that VRIRD would have been found to be more effective than MRIRD (Dickman et al, 2012). It would be beneficial for future studies comparing both procedures to formally report on vocal stereotypy across treatment and non-treatment times as suggested by Martinez and Betz (2013).…”

“…Recently, Dickman et al (2012) implemented vocal RIRD as an attempt to reduce vocal stereotypy in a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. The authors delivered tokens that could be exchanged for a preferred item (i.e., candy) contingent on every appropriate vocalization (with the exception of a mand for a token or candy).…”

Data analysis of response interruption and redirection as a treatment for vocal stereotypy

“…Both vocal RIRD and motor RIRD were effective in reducing the level of vocal stereotypy for all four subjects without the requirement of compliance with instructions. RIRD has also been evaluated as a component of larger treatment packages in several studies (Athens, Vollmer, Sloman, & St. Peter Pipkin, 2008;Col on, Ahearn, Clark, & Masalsky, 2012;Dickman, Bright, Montgomery, & Miguel, 2012;Love, Miguel, Fernand, & LaBrie, 2012;Miguel, Clark, Tereshko, & Ahearn, 2009).…”

“…As a result, exclusion of vocal stereotypy that occurs during the RIRD intervention may underestimate the overall level of vocal stereotypy across the entire session. Although a few studies have reported the total level of vocal stereotypy during sessions, including that which occurred during the intervention (e.g., Athens et al, 2008;Carroll & Kodak, 2014;Schumacher & Rapp, 2011), most studies have replicated the data-collection and analysis procedures used by Ahearn et al (2007) and did not report data on vocal stereotypy that occurred during the intervention (Ahrens et al, 2011, Experiment 1;Col on et al, 2012;Dickman et al, 2012;Liu-Gitz & Banda, 2009;Love et al, 2012;Miguel et al, 2009). This method of analyzing data may overestimate the efficacy of RIRD as a treatment procedure.…”