Using functional analysis to test whether idiosyncratic and challenging behavior in Rett syndrome is sensitive to social reinforcement contingencies.

Abstract

Rett syndrome (RS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disability that results in cognitive impairment, loss of functional and communication skills, and an emergence of idiosyncratic behaviors. There is little behavioral research to date using functional analysis to examine the operant properties of behaviors exhibited by individuals with RS. The purpose of this study was to test whether functional analysis technology could be applied to a broader range of idiosyncratic behaviors observed in a clinical sample of six girls and women living with RS. Brief functional analyses were conducted to evaluate target behaviors including breath holding, vocalizations, vocal upsets, hand mouthing, and self-injury. Results indicate that four out of the six analyses conducted with the participants produced differentiated results. Further research is needed to evaluate how identifying idiosyncratic behaviors that are sensitive to reinforcement contingencies can inform treatment for this population in areas of pronounced deficits such as communication.