Reducing self-stimulatory behavior of mentally retarded persons by alternative positive practice.

Wheelchair-mobility training (contingent upon inappropriate stereotypic behavior) combined with social praise (contingent upon toy-play behavior) effectively reduced the inappropriate behavior of three nonambulatory, profoundly retarded subjects to near-zero level. In a multiple-baseline design across subjects, self-directed and outward-directed behavior was recorded in 10-second, continuous intervals during two, 10-minute sessions per day for each subject. Baseline self-directed activity means and outward-directed activity means were altered significantly by the combined treatment approach, an effect confirmed by follow-up data.