Operant Vomiting Facts
What is operant vomiting?
Operant vomiting is a form of self-injurious behaviour in which vomiting is maintained by automatic reinforcement (such as sensory feedback), rather than social reinforcement.
What is a functional assessment in the context of behavior analysis?
A functional assessment is a process used to identify the causes or functions of a behavior, such as whether the behavior is maintained by social reinforcement or automatic reinforcement (e.g., sensory consequences).
What is positive punishment in behavior modification?
Positive punishment involves the application of an aversive stimulus following a behavior to decrease its occurrence. For example, a noxious-tasting mouthwash is used to decrease vomiting behavior.
What does DRO stand for and how is it applied to reduce self-injurious behaviour?
DRO stands for Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior. It involves reinforcing a desired behavior (other than the target behavior) and withholding reinforcement for the target behavior
Max engages in vomiting when he is denied his favorite food. How would you intervene?
One possible intervention would be using Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO), reinforcing Max for engaging in alternative behaviors (like using a communication device or asking for help) instead of vomiting.
What are some health risks associated with operant vomiting?
Health risks include tooth decay, malnutrition, dehydration, esophagitis, and in severe cases, death. It can also increase the risk of communicable diseases, such as Noroviruses. BONUS! Psychological factors such as frustration and burn out on the care takers end play a great role
What is the difference between descriptive assessments and experimental analysis?
Descriptive assessments involve direct observation of behavior in natural settings to identify patterns or triggers, while experimental analysis involves manipulating environmental variables to determine the function of the behavior.
How does sensory extinction differ from positive punishment?
Sensory extinction eliminates or reduces the sensory reinforcement that maintains the behavior (e.g., visual stimulation from vomiting), while positive punishment adds an aversive stimulus to reduce the behavior.
How does the DRO procedure differ from continuous reinforcement?
In DRO, reinforcement is given only for behaviors that occur in place of the target behavior, whereas in continuous reinforcement, every instance of the target behavior is reinforced.
What could be an effective strategy if Max's vomiting is maintained by sensory consequences?
A sensory extinction strategy, such as using the visual screening procedure, could help reduce the sensory reinforcement by blocking the visual feedback Max receives from vomiting
What factors contribute to the persistence of operant vomiting in individuals with autism?
Vomiting often persists because it provides sensory stimulation that reinforces the behavior, making it difficult to extinguish without targeted intervention.
What is the role of "no-interaction" conditions in functional assessments?
No-interaction conditions help identify automatic reinforcement by observing behaviors in the absence of social interaction, which can indicate that the behavior is maintained by sensory consequences.
What is the role of visual screening in behaviour modification?
Visual screening involves blocking the visual stimuli associated with a behavior (such as vomiting) to reduce sensory reinforcement and help extinguish the behavior over time.
Why was DRO combined with timeout ineffective in reducing Max's vomiting behavior?
DRO combined with timeout was ineffective because it did not address the automatic reinforcement (sensory feedback) maintaining Max’s vomiting behavior. It only impacted aggression, not the vomiting itself.
If a child vomits during transitions between activities, what intervention might you suggest to reduce this behavior?
You could suggest using a visual screening procedure or another sensory extinction technique, as the vomiting may be maintained by the sensory stimulation it provides.