Abstract
Ample research indicates that functional communication training (FCT) is an effective intervention to reduce challenging behavior. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of demand fading on escape-maintained challenging behavior, mands, and task completion for 2 children with autism spectrum disorder. The study utilized an embedded reversal and alternating-treatments design to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention and compare the efficacy of the demand fading and dense schedule conditions. During FCT, participants were taught 2 mand topographies, one of which was associated with demand fading. FCT with and without demand fading resulted in decreases in challenging behavior for both participants. FCT with demand fading resulted in higher task completion for both participants. The effect of demand fading on the rate of mands varied by participant. Results provide further support for the use of FCT. The importance of intervention fading in the treatment of challenging behavior is discussed.
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Stephanie Gerow, Department of Educational Psychology, Baylor University Waco, Texas; Supriya Radhakrishnan, Department of Educational Psychology, Baylor University; Tonya N. Davis, Department of Educational Psychology, Baylor University Waco, Texas; Abby Hodges, Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences, University of Denver CO; Amy Feind, Northwest Independent School District Fort Worth, TX.
The authors would like to thank Gabby Rivera, Christy Prawira, Nicole O’Guinn, and Lauren Uptegrove for their assistance with data collection.
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Research Highlights
• Demand fading with functional communication training (FCT) consists of systematically increasing the number of tasks required prior to providing function-based reinforcement for the communicative response.
• Previous research supports the use of demand fading as a schedule-thinning procedure for escape-maintained challenging behavior.
• Practitioners should consider implementing FCT with demand fading to reduce escape-maintained challenging behavior and increase task completion.
• Demand fading alone may not be sufficient to reduce the resurgence of challenging behavior following the intervention. Therefore, practitioners should consider implementing FCT over an extended period of time to prevent the resurgence of challenging behavior.
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Gerow, S., Radhakrishnan, S., Davis, T.N. et al. A Comparison of Demand Fading and a Dense Schedule of Reinforcement During Functional Communication Training. Behav Analysis Practice 13, 90–103 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00403-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00403-z