Investigates the influence of Captain's Log, a computerized cognitive-training system, on the behaviors and performance capabilities of severely disturbed children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (N=4). Results support the expectation that children who are most successful in the training would demonstrate the highest levels of…

A review of 14 studies on treatment strategies for sleep problems in individuals with severe mental retardation found the following treatments had been used: sleep scheduling, bedtime routine plus gradual distancing of parents, extinction, bedtime fading with or without response cost, chronotherapy, and melatonin. Results of treatments are…

A study of six parents of children with autism examined overall management of television and video usage in their homes. Findings indicate the children's need for repetitive video viewing caused problems inside and outside the home and that parents managed usage largely on a situation-by-situation basis without any long-term strategy. (Contains…

The frequency of occurrence of targeted environmental events during both unstructured and structured descriptive analyses conducted with two children with severe mental retardation was compared. Results showed that procedural modifications employed during the structured descriptive analysis increased the frequency of occurrence for most targeted…

Three individuals with severe behavior disorders and mental retardation, whose destructive behaviors were being maintained by positive reinforcement, were treated using functional communication training with extinction. The case studies investigated techniques used to increase effectiveness of delayed reinforcement and to teach individuals with…

A stimulus preference assessment was evaluated with an adult and a child with profound mental retardation and severe self-injurious behavior, in order to better predict both the beneficial and negative side effects of stimuli in differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior treatments. (DB)

This study of 15 children with feeding disorders investigated identification of effective behavioral reinforcers by comparing outcomes and time requirements of two procedures in which presence in a particular area produced access to a preferred stimulus (i.e., zone discrimination). Both procedures were viable reinforcer identification tools, but…

Extinction effects were evaluated in a multiple baseline across behaviors design with 2 boys (ages 7 and 8) with disabilities after just one of several target problem behaviors was observed during a functional analysis. Other target behaviors emerged as extinction was introduced sequentially across all problem behaviors. (Contains three…

The possibility of differential sex proportions as a confounding factor in the Lovaas (1987) study is raised. It is argued that the chi-square analysis was inadequate and that the appropriate comparison should be made between the experimental and the control group using population data to estimate expected cell frequencies. (Author/CR)

The second of two articles, this article describes a qualitative analysis of one family's experience during a 10-month process of assessment and intervention for the behavior challenges of a 9-year-old with severe disabilities. The impact of the positive behavioral support on the child and his family is highlighted. (CR)

This commentary discusses the need to review priorities embodied in systems providing services to children with disabilities and their families, and how special educators are trained. It urges educators to look outside of schools to the broader community to plan for full inclusion and the supports necessary to facilitate true participation. (CR)

A sample of 103 intervention outcome studies was considered to confirm best practices for intervention for challenging behavior in persons with intellectual disability and acquired brain injury and to establish service conditions associated with its effectiveness. Evidence supports the effectiveness of behavioral interventions. Problems with…

Single-case analyses were conducted of the dosage and time-course effects of methylphenidate on disruptive classroom behavior, math and reading performance, and social engagement. In contrast to previous studies, clear individual differences were demonstrated: across children; across academic, behavioral, and social domains of functioning; for…

The current study describes an assessment sequence that may be used to identify individualized, effective, and preferred interventions for severe problem behavior in lieu of relying on a restricted set of treatment options that are assumed to be in the best interest of consumers. The relative effectiveness of functional communication training…

RBackground: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is being increasingly recognized in children and adolescents. Yet comparatively little attention has been given in the literature to management. Methods: Description of the main features of the disorder, precipitating and maintaining factors and diagnostic assessment. Outline of different views on the…