Behavior News & What's New at BAAM

BAAM Updates and News

News | Events Calendar | Jobs | Behavioral History

Click here to submit a news item or event notice to BAAM

Behavior News

(see Disclaimer below)

New study in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis shows social reinforcement can produce significant improvement in joint attention in children with autism.
Behavior News 09-04-2008

In a new study in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Bridget A. Taylor and Hanna Hoch (Alpine Leaning Center, Paramus, New Jersey) show how prompting and social reinforcement may be used to produce socially significant improvements in joint attention in children with autism. The three children in the study ranged in age from 3 to 8 years, and like many children with autism, showed only incomplete and unreliable joint attention prior to the study. That is, people with autism will often look at objects when directed to by others, but then do not reliably continue the interaction by commenting or looking back at the person who initiated the interaction. Taylor and Hoch's intervention increased looking at items from about 70% of the time to virtually 100% of the time. Comments about the items by the children increased from about 25% of occasions to virtually 100%. Looking back at the person who initiated the interaction increased from about 10% of opportunities to nearly 80%. These results indicate that some of the most fundamental components of everyday social interactions may be effectively taught to children with autism using standard behavioral techniques.

Reference:

Taylor, B. A., & Hoch, H. (2008). Teaching children with autism to respond to and initiate bids for joint attention. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 41(3), 377-391. (Full text PDF)

Review of published studies concludes that weighed vests are ineffective as a treatment for behavior problems in children with autism and other disorders.
Behavior News 07-25-2008

A comprehensive literature review to be published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders by Australian researchers Jennifer Stephenson and Mark Carter (Macquarie University Special Education Centre) shows that that weighted vests are ineffective as an intervention for behavior problems in children (abstract). Advocates of Sensory Integration sometimes recommend that children wear weighted vests as a non-invasive means of remediating a wide range of problems including hyperactivity, sensory sensitivity, inattention, clumsiness, stereotypic behavior, and even self-injury. However, of the seven studies examined in detail, four concluded that weighted vests were ineffective, one reported mixed results, and only two claimed relatively weak positive effects. Moreover, those studies that claimed to demonstrate benefits from weighted vests suffered from important methodological weaknesses and biases that undermined the credibility of the claims. For instance, a 2001 study by Vandenberg involving four children simply measured certain behaviors before and after putting the vests on (an AB design), but did not include any control subjects or a return to baseline to determine if the treatment effects were due to the vest or other factors. Another 2001 study by Fertel-Daly, Bedell, and Hinojosa featured a stronger ABA (reversal) experimental design, but used varying scales of in their graphic presentations to exaggerate the size of their small and inconsistent treatment effects. In one case, the range of the vertical axis of a graph was restricted to 10% of the full scale of the data. In some other cases, the ABA designed actually revealed a lack of experimental control as when decreases in the target behavior observed during the treatment condition continued when the weighted vests were removed. The credibility of the mixed findings of a 2004 study by Myles and colleagues are undermined by several problems including important errors and inconsistencies in the reported data.

In general, the strength of the claimed effects for weighted vests inversely related to the quality of the research methodology. According to the authors:

It is clear that consistent positive effects of the wearing of weighted vests have not been demonstrated, a finding consistent with research on sensory integration therapy in general (see Arendt et al. 1988; Baranek 2002; Dawson and Watling 2000; Hoehn and Baumeister 1994; Hyatt et al. in press; National Research Council 2001; Leong and Carter 2008; New York State Department of Health 1999; Perry and Condillac 2003; Roberts 2004; Shaw 2002; Vargas and Camilli 1999). In four of the studies examined, the vests had no clinically significant effect on behavior. In two studies (Fertel-Daly et al. 2001; VandenBerg 2001) positive effects were claimed and Myles et al. (2004) reported mixed results, but there were some important interpretive problems and further discussion is warranted.

In addition to the weakness of the the data supporting the effectiveness of weighted vests, Stephenson and Carter also describe unclear and inconsistent criteria for the use of the vests and apparently little attention to the orthopedic risks to children carrying up to 10% of their body weights for extended periods. The authors concluded that while there might be reason to look more closely at the claimed benefits of weighted vests, they should not be recommended as an effective clinical intervention.

While it should be acknowledged there is only a limited body of research, on balance, indications are that weighted vests are ineffective. There may be an arguable case for continued research on this intervention but future investigators need to ensure that: criteria for participant selection are replicable and justifiable; participants are adequately described; interobserver reliability is satisfactorily established; observers are blinded to the presence of weight in the vests; results are appropriately interpreted with consideration of the functional magnitude of changes; more stringent research designs (such as alternating treatment or multiple baseline designs) are employed. Until such time as well-conducted studies can provide replicated evidence to the contrary, weighted vests cannot be recommended for clinical application.

Study Reference

Stephenson, J., & Carter, M. (in press). The use of weighted vests with children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

References

Arendt, R. E., MacLean, W. E., & Baumeister, A. A. (1988). Critique of sensory integration therapy and its application to mental retardation. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 92, 401–411.
Baranek, G. T. (2002). Efficacy of sensory and motor interventions for children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32, 397–422. doi:10.1023/A:1020541906063.
Barton, E.E., Reichow, B., & Wolery, M. (2007, May). Double blind placebo evaluation on the engagement of young children with autism. Poster session presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research, Seattle Washington.
Carter, S. L. (2005). An empirical analysis of the effects of a possible sinus infection and weighted vest on functional analysis outcomes of self-injury exhibited by a child with autism. Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Interventions, 2, 252–258.
Dawson, G. D., & Watling, R. (2000). Interventions to facilitate auditory, visual, and motor integration in autism: A review of the evidence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 415–421. doi:10.1023/A:1005547422749
Fertel-Daly, D., Bedell, G., & Hinojosa, J. (2001). Effects of a weighted vest on attention to task and self-stimulatory behaviors in preschoolers with pervasive developmental disorders. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 629–640.
Hoehn, T. P., & Baumeister, A. A. (1994). A critique of the application of sensory integration therapy to children with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 27, 338–350.
Hyatt, K. J., Stephenson, J., & Carter, M. (in press). A review of three controversial educational practices: Perceptual motor programs, sensory integration, and tinted lenses. Education and Treatment of Children.
Leong, H. M., & Carter, M. (2008). Research on the efficacy of sensory integration therapy: Past, present and future. Australasian Journal of Special Education, 32, 83–99.
Myles, B. S., Simpson, R. L., Carlson, J., Laurant, M., Gentry, A. M., Cook, K. T., et al. (2004). Examining the effects of the use of weighted vests for addressing behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 5, 47–62.
National Research Council (Ed.). (2001). Educating children with autism. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
New York State Department of Health. (1999). Clinical practice guideline—Report of the guideline recommendations: Autism/pervasive developmental disorders assessment and intervention for young children (Age 0–3 Years). Retrieved August 8, 2006, from http://www.health.state.ny.us/community/infants_children/early_intervention/autism/index.htm.
Perry, A., & Condillac, R. (2003). Evidence-based practices for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: Review of the literature and practice guide. Toronto, Canada: Children’s Medical Health Ontario.
Roberts, J. (2004). A review of the research to identify the most effective models of best practice in the management of children with autism spectrum disorder. Sydney, NSW: Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.
Shaw, S. R. (2002). A school psychologist investigates sensory integration therapies: Promise, possibility, and the art of placebo. NASP Communique, 31(2). Retrieved August 9, 2006, from http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq312si.html.
VandenBerg, N. L. (2001). The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 621–628.
Vargas, S., & Camilli, G. (1999). A meta-analysis of research on sensory integration treatment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53, 189–198.

New quantitative case analysis by BAAM members shows improvements in important cognitive and adaptive measures by children with autism after participation in intensive behavioral treatment.
Behavior News 07-20-2008

A new study by BAAM members Ruth M. Anan, Lori J. Warner, Jamie E. McGillivary, Ivy M. Chong and Stefani J. Hines (Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan) shows significant gains in cognitive and adaptive functions after a 12-week (180 hour) parent training program in behavioral interventions--the GIFT program (Group Intensive Family Training).

The behavior of children in 72 parent- child dyads was assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and Vineland Adaptive Behavior scales before and after individualized parent training. Parents were trained to use basic behavioral techniques and concepts such as differential reinforcement, response-cost, reinforcement thinning, shaping, chaining, prompting, programmatic generalization, errorless teaching, establishing and transferring stimulus control, mand training,and motivational operations. In keeping with important methods of promoting generalization and maintenance of treatment gains and the least-restrictive treatment philosophy, parents were taught to incorporate the interventions to the extent possible into everyday activities. According to the authors, "Perhaps most important, parents were taught to incorporate many of these behavioral principles during various day-to-day activities with their children" (p. 171; see BAAM video series for examples of behavioral interventions incorporated into everyday activities.). It is also important to note that the parents were instructed to teach adult-directed and child-directed activities. The latter is especially important in promoting peer socialization.

The results of the program were impressive. According to the authors,

Analyses revealed average gains of eight standard score points on the Mullen Early Learning Composite and five standard score points on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite after 12 weeks of treatment. Additionally, 14% and 11% of the children moved from the ‘impaired’ to ‘non-impaired’ range on Mullen and Vineland composite scores, respectively. (p. 165).

During the 4.1 month average interval between pre-test and post-test, the children showed an average of 8.2 months overall developmental gains on the Mullen and and 5.7 months on the Vineland. According to the authors:

This rate of developmental progress is particularly impressive, as these children had not made month-for-month developmental gains prior to treatment. (p. 174)

Putting these gains in a larger perspective, the authors also note:

Bearing in mind that this intervention was only 12 weeks in length, these findings are generally in keeping with data from Eikeseth and his colleagues (2002) who found mean increases in cognitive and adaptive functioning of 17 and 11 standard score points, respectively, following a full year of intensive behavioral treatment from professional therapists. A review by Smith (1999) cites IQ gains ranging from 7 to 28 points, and recent studies by Sallows and Graupner (2005) and by Howard et al. (2005) document IQ gains of 18 and 29 points, respectively, for children receiving intensive behavioral intervention for more than a year.

Results such as these suggest that well designed parent-training programs in behavioral treatments for autism can results in gains similar to those seen in some more intensive center-based programs. Of critical importance in achieving this level of success is maintaining parent engagement with the program and good fidelity to program procedures. References:

Anan, R.M., Warner, L.J., McGillivary, J.E.,Chong, I.M., & Hines, S.J. (2008). Group Intensive Family Training (GIFT) for
preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral Interventions, 23(3), 165–180Eikeseth, S., Smith, T., Jahr, E., & Eldevik, S. (2002). Intensive behavioral treatment at school for 4- to 7-year-old children with autism: A 1-year comparison controlled study. Behavior Modification, 26, 49–68.Howard, J. S., Sparkman, C. R., Cohen, H. G., Green, G., & Stanislaw, H. (2005). A. comparison of intensive behavior analytic and eclectic treatments for young children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26, 359–383. Sallows, G. O., & Graupner, T. D. (2005). Intensive behavioral treatment for children with autism: Four-year outcome and predictors. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110, 417–438.
Smith, T. (1999). Outcome of early intervention for children with autism. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6, 33–49.

Links:

Survey of 469 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) shows treatment preferences and other beliefs.
Behavior News 07-20-2008

An online 212-question survey of 469 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) published in the current issue of Behavioral Interventions shows that the vast majority of BCBAs report using applied behavior analysis (ABA) and ABA-based treatments. However, according to authors Kimberly A. Schreck (Pennsylvania State, left) and Alison Mazur (Pathway School, Norristown, PA), BCBAs "endorsed and used all types of treatments, despite their beliefs that the treatments were difficult to implement, not cost effective, and not supported by research" (p. 201). For example, 30 of the 469 BCBAs (6.4%) reported using the discredited method facilitated communication.

The questions asked in the survey were designed to assess a sizable number of issues, including:

the number and ages of clients treated
the respondent’s education and professional training for autism treatment
the status of the respondent’s behavior analysis certification
the types of employment and professional agency affiliation
the type of treatment used
the judgment of the effectiveness of the each treatment
whether each treatment was effective
whether each treatment changed behavior
if each treatment was easy to implement
if each treatment was cost effective
if each treatment was supported by research

The major results of the survey are indicated in the table below:

Intervention	Percent that Reported Using the Intervention	Percent Reporting Belief in Empirical Support for Intervention
ABA	98.7	97.4
DTI	91.0	90.0
PECS	76.8	64.4
Verbal Behavior	70.4	66.5
Positive Behavior Support	58.8	51.8
Nonaversive	43.7	37.3
Person Centered	29.4	14.9
TEACCH	20.7	18.6
Sensory Integration	16.4	9.2
Speech	15.8	43.3
Floortime	14.9	6.6
Physical Therapy	7.7	47.8
Facilitated Communication	6.4	5.1
Music Therapy	3.2	5.1
Gentle Teaching	2.6	1.3
Auditory Integration	1.1	1.9

The discrepancies in some cases between the reported level of empirical support and the use of certain interventions suggests that some BCBAs might be required to use methods they themselves do not endorse. For instance, only a little more than half of the BCBAs who reported using Sensory Integration as reported that it was an empirically supported treatment. There is also reason to believe that a small number of BCBAs have earned the credential for professional enhancement purposes rather than to demonstrate an adherence to a scientific approach to behavior. Even so, the authors remain concerned about the number of BCBAs who seem to endorse treatments with little or no demonstrated empirical validity. "Unfortunately, BCBAs also appear to be persuaded to use fad treatments because they are easy to use, even though they do not particularly see them as effective in changing behavior" (p. 210).

Reference:

Schreck, K.A. & Mazur, A. (2008). Behavior analyst use of the and belief in treatments for people with autism. Behavioral Interventions, 23(3), 201-212

Link:

Article Abstract

Call for Papers: Education and Treatment of Children Special Issue on Video Modeling

Education and Treatment of Children Journal Cover Video Modeling (VM) refers to a popular instructional strategy involving presentation of video footage depicting accurate completion of a task followed by an opportunity to complete the task. This strategy has been used effectively with many populations including children and individuals with special needs and a recent review (Bellini & Akullian, 2007) documents the extensiveness of the literature supporting the effects of VM with children with autism. Although VM is clearly an effective intervention, there has not been extensive examination of several important experimental questions relevant to VM. Education and Treatment of Children invites authors to submit manuscripts for a special issue on video modeling. Manuscripts are sought that examine the differential effects of video modeling compared to other interventions, comparisons of different types or components of video models (e.g., self/other, point of view/scene), examinations of factors that contribute to the effectiveness of VM (e.g., video as a preferred medium, differential levels of attending), investigations in which video modeling proved ineffective with some examination of why, or other papers related to video modeling. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts electronically or to contact the Guest Editor, Linda LeBlanc, at linda.a.leblanc@gmail.com.

Links

Education and Treatment of Children (Includes links to full-text articles.)

Reference:

Bellini, S. & Akullian, J. (2007). A meta-analysis of video modeling and video self-modeling interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Exceptional Children, 73, 261-284.

New quantitative meta-analysis by BAAM members shows non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) to be an empirically supported treatment for problem behavior.
Behavior News 05-09-2008

Picture of Jamie Severtson A new review of 59 studies of non-contingent reinforcement (NCR), "Noncontingent Reinforcement is an Empirically Supported Treatment for Problem Behavior Exhibited by Individuals with Developmental Disabilities," by BAAM members Jamie Severtson, James Carr, and Tracy Lepper of Western Michigan University to be published in the journal Research in Developmental Disabilities, shows NCR to be an empirically supported treatment according to standards established by the Task Force on the Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures. NCR is a fixed-time (FT) or variable-time (VT) reinforcement procedure in which likely reinforcers are delivered periodically regardless of the behavior of the individual. In applied practice, NCR is usually combined with extinction (the removal of reinforcers thought to maintain the problem behavior) and other procedures.* (Photo Left: Jamie Severtson)

In contrast to some previous narrative and qualitative analyses of the effectiveness of NCR, Severtson, Carr, and Lepper applied an objective set of ratings to the articles they examined. Of the original 59 studies chosen, they found that 24 studies met the basic inclusion criteria. The analysis of those 24 showed that NCR consisting of FT reinforcer delivery, extinction, and response-thinning could be classified as "well-established;" NCR consisting of FT or VT reinforcement and extinction could be considered "probably efficacious."

It should be noted that the inclusion criteria were quite stringent, and excluded studies that had not included an experimental functional analysis of likely reinforcers. Thus, a number of NCR studies with valid experimental designs and strong treatment effects were excluded from the analysis.

Reference:

Severtson, J.M., Carr, J.E., Lepper, T. L. (2008, in press). Noncontingent reinforcement is an empirically supported treatment for problem behavior exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities, Research in Developmental Disabilities. (Note, online full text will be unavailable after article is published.)

*NCR works by adding reinforcers to the behavioral context, thereby making the rate of reinforcement for the problem behavior proportionally less than it had been. The probability of the problem behavior is thus reduced. When reinforcement for the problem behavior is also eliminated, the problem behavior is further reduced in probability.

B.F. Skinner's classic Science and Human Behavior available as free download for personal use from the B.F. Skinner Foundation.
Behavior News 05-08-2008

The B.F. Skinner Foundation has made Skinner's classic Science and Human Behavior available as a free PDF download for personal use. Published in 1953, Science and Human Behavior was Skinner's third book on behavior analysis. Skinner applied behavioral principles to the analysis of human behavior at all levels, from individual responses to basic stimuli, to private behavior such as thinking and dreaming, to social and cultural behavior.

Science and Human Behavior is rightly considered one of the foundational works of behavior analysis, and served as the introduction to the science of behavior for an entire generation of behavior analysts. It is indispensable reading for all modern behavior analysts as well. Those who believe behavior analysis is unconcerned with the depth and breadth of human behavior will likely be surprised by the scope and prescience of Skinner's analysis. A half-a-century of research in basic and applied behavior analysis has only strengthened the empirical foundations of what in 1953 was substantially theoretical.

Related Links:

New review of twenty-five autism treatment studies shows Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is more effective and better researched than other approaches.
Behavior News 05-06-2008

A new review of twenty-five treatment outcome studies to be published in the journal Research in Developmental Disabilities shows that comprehensive autism treatments based on applied behavior analysis (ABA) principles are superior in effectiveness to treatments based on the TEACCH or Colorado Health Science models. Treatment models other than ABA have also received comparatively little attention from researchers, leading to the conclusion that they cannot be deemed either "Well-Established" or "Probably Efficacious."

Study author Svein Eikeseth of Akershus University College in Lillestrom, Norway and the Nova Institute for Children with Developmental Disorders (NOVA Instituttet for Barn Utviklingsforstyrrelser) examined 20 studies of ABA treatment, three of TEACCH, and two of the Colorado model. To be included in the analysis, each study needed to (1) be published in a peer-review journal, (2) be aimed at children younger than seven years at intake, (3) include outcome data, and (4) examine treatments aimed at addressing all three core deficits of autism.

Eikeseth graded each study according to its scientific merit and magnitude of treatment effect on a rigorously defined three-point scale (1=highest; 3=lowest). Five studies, all ABA-based treatments, achieved Level 1 or 2 scores of scientific merit. Eleven studies received a score of 3 on scientific merit--nine of which evaluated ABA and two evaluated TEACCH. Nine studies were deemed to have "insufficient scientific value" (ISV). Six of the ISV studies evaluated ABA, one evaluated TEACCH, and two investigated the Colorado program.

Outcome analyses showed that four ABA studies received Level 1 ratings of treatment effectiveness. A Level 1 outcome rating indicated that "children receiving ABA made significantly more gains than control group children on standardized measures of IQ, language and adaptive functioning." Three ABA studies received Level 2 ratings. Level 3 ratings were achieved by two TEACCH and five ABA studies. The rest of the studies did not have sufficiently well described procedures or outcomes to evaluate.

Eikeseth's analysis demonstrates that ABA remains the only comprehensive approach to autism that can claim to be effective based of high-quality outcome data. Eikeseth points out that only three of the many comprehensive autism treatment approaches have been subjected to any kind of rigorous analysis. Thus, many children are being treated in programs of entirely unknown effectiveness. The difficulty of establishing long-term effectiveness is recognized. But that fact does not mean that shorter-term assessments are not possible--with the possibility that children in programs that are not effective after a reasonable period might be moved to a more effective intervention.

Reference

Eikeseth, S (2008, in press). Outcome of comprehensive psycho-educational interventions for young children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities. (Note, online full text will be unavailable after article is published.)

Reference Miner 3.0 simplifies PubMed searches for behavior analysts.
Behavior News 05-05-2008

Free Reference Miner 3.0 from Sonny Software searches PubMed, Library of Congress, Amazon, and other sources for scientific and book information. The current release includes drag-and-drop download of PDFs, web page display for PubMed and Amazon. Those interested in behavior analysis will find Reference Miner's PubMed search feature especially helpful for finding articles in back issues of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB) and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA). Access to full-text JEAB and JABA back issues is free. Reference Miner 3.0 is only available for Macintosh OS X. An institutional subscription may be required for access to paid reference services.


Search Results in Browser View		Search results in Text View

Police scandal revealed in dismissed FC abuse case. Coercion and deception improperly used in interrogation of 13-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome.
Behavior News 03-16-2008; updated 03-17-2008

Recent Developments

Highlights & Details

Lies and coercion used by police interrogator against 13-year-old brother with Asperger's.
Boy told of non-existent tapes of sexual activity during questioning.
Police question Asperger's brother without parents or attorney present.
Judge dismisses all charges against both parents.
Prosecutors move to dismiss all charges; do not inform defense.
Prosecution claims girl says, through facilitation, that she will not testify.
FC completely fails two in-court tests.
All experts, including FC advocate, agree accusations unreliable.
Police ignore warnings to guard against facilitator influence during questioning.
Judge rejects a hearing on the scientific admissibility of FC testimony.
Paper: Prosecution conducting "witchhunt."

Just days following the dismissal of all charges against parents accused of sexually abusing their daughter, news sources are revealing previously unreported details of the coercive interrogation of the girl's brother with Asperger's syndrome.

In an extensive interrogation, a police officer lied to the boy, saying the police had videotapes of sexual encounters and other physical evidence proving the allegations that the father had assaulted the daughter. No such videotapes or evidence existed. The boy initially resisted the questioning. But after repeated threats and false statements from the police interrogator, the boy began making up bizarre reports of sexual activities denied by all others in the case. This interrogation occurred without the knowledge of the child's court-appointed guardian, and without parents or attorneys present.

The boy's questioning occurred shortly after the police questioned the daughter about abuse through the discredited technique facilitated communication. Despite numerous verifiable errors in the allegations, and no independent evidence of abuse, the parents were charged of rape, abuse, and witness tampering. No attempt was made by the school, police, or prosecutor to test the validity of the girl's original facilitated accusations or any of those made later by the same facilitator. Based on false facilitated allegations of guns at the parents' house and an unauthorized visit by the parents to the children at the Rabbi/guardian's home, the father was placed in prison for 80 days, the mother was placed on an electronic tether, and the children were removed. Despite court authorization, the mother was not given the opportunity to visit the son for several weeks. (See Behavior News 03-11-08)

Despite a favorable decision by the judge to allow the facilitated testimony into the record, the prosecution's case began to fall apart in a January hearing when FC failed to produce a single correct answer in two separate in-court tests. In these tests, the facilitators had not been allowed to hear the simple questions asked of the girl. The facilitators had claimed they could successfully facilitate without hearing the questions. Defense experts James T. Todd and Howard Shane had testified that scientific evidence showed that FC involves complete control of the output by the facilitators, and had predicted that FC would fail in court when the facilitators did not know the questions.(See Behavior News 02-11-08)

Post a comment | Read Comments

Other news coverage

Interrogation abuses justice, and a child (Detroit Free Press, 3-20-2008)
"A legal horror show tears Oakland Co. family apart" (Detroit Free Press, 03-17-08)
Free Press Special Report:"A legal horror show tears Oakland Co. family apart" (Detroit Free Press, 03-17-08)
Free Press Special Report: How to Wreck a Boy's Life (Detroit Free Press, 03-16-08)
Prosecutor moves to drop all charges (Detroit Free Press. 03-11-08)
Father in FC case stays free on bond (Detroit Free Press. 02-25-08)
Father in FC case released on personal bond (Detroit Free Press. 02-23-08)
Defense appeals facilitated statements (Detroit Free Press, 02-19-2008)
Crying Rape through a Ouija Board (Detroit Free Press, 02-06-2008)
Autistic girl...can stay in school (Detroit Free Press, 02-06-2008)
Defense: School sways girl (Detroit Free Press, 02-04-2008)
Mother...allowed to see son (Detroit Free Press, 02-04-2008)
Judge allows autistic girl's testimony (Detroit Free Press, 01-30-2008)
Judge to hear more testimony on autistic girl testifying (Detroit Free Press, 01-29-2008)

Information and commentary on FC:

It is BAAM's official position that the accumulated scientific evidence has convincingly demonstrated that facilitated communication does not work as its advocates say it does, and that output from FC should never be used to support allegations of sexual abuse.

Read and sign the BAAM Resolution on Facilitated Communication

Other FC Resolutions and Statements

All charges dropped in facilitated communication abuse case.
Behavior News 03-11-2008

In a hearing conducted Tuesday morning (03-11-08), Oakland County Michigan District Judge Marc Barron agreed to dismiss all charges against an Bloomfield Hills Michigan couple accused of sexual abuse and witness tampering through the discredited autism intervention, facilitated communication.

In facilitated communication, a "facilitator" typically holds the hand or arm of a person who cannot speak, supposedly to prevent impulsive movements, thereby allowing typed communication.

In a surprise development on Monday (3-10-08), prosecutors moved to dismiss all charges without informing the defense. The prosecution claimed that the girl with severe autism at the center of the case had expressed, through facilitation, that she was not willing to testify in court. Oakland County Chief Prosecutor David Gorcyca wrote, "The option of alternative proofs have been fully evaluated and found to be not legally sufficient to sustain the requisite burden of proof."

Defense experts had stated in a January hearing that overwhelming scientific evidence shows that messages authored through facilitated communication are authored by the facilitator, not the person with autism.

In a January hearing, FC critics and an FC advocate agreed that the FC accusations could not be trusted. The experts cited factors such as the poor training of the facilitator, the scientific evidence against FC, and many verifiable errors throughout the accusations. These errors included misidentified and non-existent family members, and religious statements inconsistent with the family's Jewish faith. The family's orthodox Rabbi had vigorously disputed allegations that the parents had visited the children in his home in defiance of court orders.

The prosecution's case suffered additional difficulties in the January hearing when FC failed to produce a single correct answer in two separate tests. In these tests, the facilitators had not been allowed to hear the simple questions asked of the girl. The facilitators had testified that it was not necessary to hear the questions to "facilitate" successfully. Defense experts had testified that scientific evidence showed that FC involves complete control of the output by the facilitators, and had predicted that FC would fail when the facilitators could not hear the questions.

Prosecution moves to drop all charges in facilitated communication abuse case. Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 11.
Behavior News 03-11-2008

In a surprise development on Monday (3-10-08), Oakland County Michigan prosecutors moved to dismiss all abuse and witness tampering charges in an case involving allegations produced using the discredited autism intervention technique, facilitated communication. In facilitated communication, a "facilitator" typically holds the hand or arm of a person who cannot speak, supposedly to prevent impulsive movements, thereby allowing typed communication. In Monday filings, the prosecution claimed that the girl with severe autism at the center of the case had expressed, through facilitation, that she was not willing to testify in court. Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that messages authored through facilitated communication are authored by the facilitator, not the person with autism. Defense experts had testified that the girl had virtually no expressive verbal ability and estimated non-verbal cognitive abilities in the 2-3 year-old range. Prosecutors stated that without the girl's testimony there is insufficient evidence to proceed with the case. Oakland County Chief Prosecutor David Gorcyca wrote, "The option of alternative proofs have been fully evaluated and found to be not legally sufficient to sustain the requisite burden of proof."

Based on the original allegations, the father had been placed in jail from early December to late February with no bond. The mother had been placed on an electronic tether. The children had been removed, and the mother afforded only very limited opportunities to visit the son. In an important reversal, the father had been released from jail on personal bond in late February. In an additional reversal of previous rulings, Oakland County Judge Joan Young ordered that the girl and her brother, who has Asperger's syndrome, be returned to the parents immediately.

In a January hearing, FC critics testifying for the defense and an FC advocate testifying for the prosecution had all agreed that the accusations accepted by the court could not be trusted. The experts cited factors such as the poor training of the facilitator, the total absence of any protection against facilitator control in generating the allegations, overwhelming scientific evidence showing that facilitators unconsciously control the FC output, and many verifiable errors and inconsistencies throughout the accusations themselves. These errors included misidentified and non-existent family members, misspellings that had not appeared in other FC transcripts, and religious statements inconsistent with the family's Jewish faith. The family's orthodox Rabbi had vigorously disputed allegations that the parents had visited the children in his home in defiance of court orders.

In a dramatic courtroom moment, the prosecution's expert witness, an FC advocate who had already agreed with the defense experts in repudiating the prosecution's contentions about the reliability of the accusations, revealed that she had called the police prior to their interview of the child and facilitator. She had warned of the problem of facilitator control and suggested protective protocols. Her advice was rejected. In a separate development, it was also revealed that the thirteen year-old brother was interviewed early in the case without the guardian's knowledge, and without parents or an attorney present.

The prosecution's case suffered additional difficulties in the January hearing when FC failed to produce a single correct answer in two tests conducted on two different days. In these tests, the facilitators had not been allowed to hear the simple questions asked of the girl. The facilitators had testified that it was not necessary to hear the questions to successfully "facilitate" successfully. Before and after the failed demonstrations, defense experts had testified that scientific evidence showed that FC involves complete control of the output by the facilitators, and that FC reliably fails when the facilitators cannot hear the questions or do not know the answers.

A hearing to rule on the prosecution's dismissal request is scheduled for 10 am Tuesday (3-11) in front of Bloomfield Hills District Judge Marc Barron.

New Journal: Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention
March 7, 2008: source: EBCAI

Informa Healthcare is pleased to announce the launch of Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention - a new international journal under the joint editorship of Dr. Ralf W. Schlosser, Professor, Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Northeastern University, Boston, U.S.A., and Dr. Jeff Sigafoos, Professor, School of Education, The University of Tasmania, Australia.

Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention (EBCAI) brings together professionals from several disciplines to promote evidence-based practice (EBP) in serving individuals with communication impairments. We target speech-language pathologists, special educators, regular educators, applied behavior analysts, clinical psychologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists who serve children or adults with communication impairments. We select and appraise the latest and highest quality studies and reviews related to assessment, intervention, diagnosis, and prognosis published across 60+ professional journals in speech-language pathology and related fields. We make these appraisals accessible through value-added structured abstracts that include expert commentary about the quality of the evidence as well as its practical implications. This affords the practitioner a one-stop reading experience to stay on top of research findings in order to facilitate evidence-based decision-making. Researchers and university professors will benefit from access to cutting-edge and clinically relevant studies.

EBCAI also provides a forum for the dissemination of original research and discussion of methodologies and concepts that advance EBP as well as of experiential accounts of relevant stakeholders involved in the EBP process. Please consult the Information for Authors for the specific kinds of submissions EBCAI seeks to publish.

Links:

Iceland: The Most Scientific Nation on Earth.
February 25,2008

With a higher per-capita number of signatories to BAAM's Resolution on Facilitated Communication than any other country, tiny Iceland earns top honors as BAAM's "Most Scientific Nation on Earth." With a total population of about 313,000, Iceland's 17 signatories to BAAM's resolution supporting science in autism treatment show that the island nation is over 30 times more committed to a science of behavior than any other country, including the United States. These figures suggest that Iceland has the highest per-capita number of behavior analysts of any nation on the planet. Courses in behavior analysis are taught at the University of Iceland and behavioral interventions are becoming increasingly available in Iceland. BAAM is declaring Iceland the "Most Scientific Nation on Earth" because there's no better evidence of a commitment to science generally than a commitment to a science of behavior.

Links:

Facilitated Communication Allowed in Court in Michigan, Science Rejected.
February 3, 2008--Behavior News; Updated February 6, 2008; Feb. 19.2008; February 25, 2008

Despite the failure of facilitated communication (FC) to produce a single correct answer in two separate courtroom tests during a two-day special hearing, accusations "facilitated" by a Walled Lake Schools paraprofessional have been admitted in an ongoing Oakland County Michigan sex abuse case.

In a dramatic show of agreement across FC lines, the defense and prosecution experts all stated that the accusations accepted by the court could not be trusted due to factors such as the poor training of the facilitator, the total absence of any protection against facilitator control in generating the allegations, the scientific evidence demonstrating the problem of facilitator control, and many verifiable errors and inconsistencies throughout the accusations themselves. These errors included misidentified family members, non-existent relatives, misspellings that had not appeared in previous FC transcripts, and religious statements inconsistent with the family's Jewish faith. Other incidents in the accusations have been strongly disputed by the family's Rabbi.

The prosecution's expert witness, an FC advocate who had testified to the unreliability of the accusations, revealed that she had called the police prior to their interview of the child and facilitator. She had warned of the problem of facilitator control and suggested protective protocols--including the use of an independent, naive facilitator. Her advice was rejected. It has also been revealed that the thirteen year-old brother, who has the developmental disability Asperger's syndrome, was interviewed in early December by the West Bloomfield police without the guardian's knowledge, and without parents or an attorney present.

After allowing the prosecution to conduct two tests of FC with the child, with the person responsible for the original accusations also facilitating in court, the judge refused to permit the defense experts to conduct any validity tests at all. The judge also denied the defense a Daubert hearing on the scientific admissibility of FC. By doing so, the judge rejected the role of science in determining the reliability of FC as courtroom testimony.

The father, who had been in jail since the beginning of December with no bond, was released on an electronic tether in late February; the mother is also on an electronic tether; the children have been taken away. The facilitator responsible for the original accusations continues to work with the child and served as the de facto FC "interpreter" in court. Circuit court judge Joan Young has ruled that FC can continue with the girl in school--where it has been used for the last three years without being tested for reliability.

Commenting on the lack of physical evidence, repeated failures of FC to work in court, and other significant weaknesses in the case, Detroit Free Press columnist Brian Dickerson has described the prosecution's case as a "breathtakingly unprofessional witch hunt."

Todd R. Risley, behavior analysis pioneer, dies of heart surgery complications.
November 7, 2006--Behavior News

Todd R. Risley, behavior analysis pioneer, died Friday November 2 of complications following bypass and pacemaker surgery. He had recently been released from the Mayo Clinic when he collapsed suddenly in his home in Palmer, Alaska, near Anchorage. Risley received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1966, spent many years in the Department of Human Development and Family Life at the University of Kansas, and was Professor Emeritus at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Risley contributed to the field of behavior analysis in many different ways. He was best known for his collaboration with Montrose Wolf and Hayden Mess in 1964 on the behavioral treatment of problems associated with autism, "Application of Operant Conditioning Procedures to the Behavior Problems of an Autistic Child--sometimes called the "Dicky Article"--and for the seminal 1968 JABA article, "Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis," with Donald Baer and Montrose Wolf.

It is accurate to say that Wolf, Risley, and Mees's work with Dicky, using reinforcement principles to establish functional independent living skills in a child who probably would not have had them otherwise, set the stage for virtually all systematic applied behavior analytic interventions with autism to follow. The 1968 Baer, Wolf, and Risley article, "Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis," literally defined an entire field.

Although Risley will be sorely missed by all those who knew him, his enduring contributions to the science of behavior will continue to benefit untold numbers of people with disabilities.

Behavior Analysis Certification Board programs now nationally accredited

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board's BCBA and BCABA credentialing programs are now accredited by the National Council for Certifying Agencies in Washington, DC. The NCCA is the accreditation body of the National Organization for Competency Assurance.

According to Gerald Shook, Chief Executive Officer of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board,

We believe that attaining this accreditation verifies the high quality of BACB programs and will be instrumental in increasing the recognition of BACB credentials by governmental agencies, insurance carriers, and the public.

Links:

The Michigan Psychology Licensing Board decreases requirements for full psychology license applicants and increases requirements for applicants for limited licensure. Other changes made.
December 7, 2006--Behavior News; revised June 1, 2007, September 11, 2007.

The Michigan Psychology Licensing Board has enacted a sweeping list of changes to licensure requirements and other rules for licensed and limited-license psychologists. The new provisions were made effective August 14, 2007, with various provisions becoming active on future dates.

The most important changes are:

reducing the number of post-doctoral hours required for full licensure from 4000 to 2000 .
requiring that applicants for limited licensure pass the EPPP psychology examination with a score of at least 450. An examination is not now required for limited license psychologists, although continuous doctoral-level supervision is.

The changes enacted for full licensure primarily affect doctoral-level psychologists while the changes enacted for the limited license affect mostly masters-level psychologists.

The effect of the new regulations is to relax the requirements for gaining full licensure and increase the requirements for acquiring limited licensure. There is no increase in privileges for limited-license psychologists or practice-parity with other mental health professionals with similar or less training in psychological assessment and treatment.

Among the changes which would go into effect in 2009 and 2010 are to:

require an applicant for licensure as a limited licensed psychologist to take and pass a national licensing examination, as of June 30, 2010. Limited license applicants must earn a score of at least 450 on the psychology exam; applicants for full licensure must earn a score of at least 500 (R 338.2505a)
revise ethics training requirements for individuals who apply for licensure at either the master s degree or doctorate level. Effective June 30, 2009, one graduate course of 3 semester hours (or 5 quarter hours) in scientific and professional ethics would be required (R 338.2506).
reduce the number of hours of postdoctoral experience that an applicant for licensure as a psychologist must obtain. Applicants for full licensure would be required to have 2000 hours of post-doctoral experience, one-half of the 4000 hours currently required. the number of post-degree hours for limited license applicants remains unchanged at 2000 hours. The 2000 hours must be completed in two years (R 338.2506)
permit a limited licensed psychologist to request from the Board of Psychology a variance from the supervision requirements. In cases of hardship, extensions of time periods for post-degree hours may be considered by the the Licensing Board.
adopt designation criteria of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology for doctoral programs.
clarify and update regulations pertaining to advertising. Simplifies some rules with respect to advertising and specifies how limited license psychologists might be identified in advertising (R 338.2514).
Add a new rule to specify activities between a licensee and a client that will be considered prohibited conduct in a professional relationship. Attempts to clarify prohibited conduct, especially with reference to multiple relationships (R 338.2515)
Add a new rule to address the retention, disposition, and confidentiality of client records. Client records must be preserved for a minimum of seven years. Confidentiality must be assured unless provided by law or following a client's written authorization (R 338.2516).

Related References:

Notice of public hearing (PDF)

Michigan Public Health Code for Psychologists

Albert Ellis, developer of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) dies at age 93.
July 24, 2007--www.albertellis.org

Albert Ellis (September 27, 1913 - July 24, 2007) died today of natural causes related to age (obituary). Ellis is known for developing "Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy" (REBT), an approach in which certain psychological problems are attributed to faulty thinking and emotional responses to life events. By therapeutically altering the troublesome thinking and emotions, the client may subsequently respond in more effective ways. In this view, Ellis considered thinking and feelings as private events that could be aversive to experience in themselves or lead, as links in a chain of behaviors, to dysfunctional overt behavior.

Ellis's basic philosophy, that the past cannot be changed but our responses to it can be, bears similarities to the philosophy of Stoicism. Ellis also recognized certain similarities between REBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), viewing ACT with apparently more favor than ACT practitioners viewed REBT. In a 2005 article, "Can Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Resolve Their Differences and Be Integrated?" (abstract), Ellis disagreed with ACT founder Steven C. Hayes (abstract) and stated:

My own view is that ACT and REBT significantly overlap in their theory and practice and that they can be successfully integrated if both therapies make some changes. (Abstract)

Links:

Spanish language version of "ABCs of ABA" released as a two-DVD freeware-set by FEAT-Houston and TXABA
July 10, 2007--www.feathouston.org

Families for Effective Autism Treatment-Houston (FEAT-Houston) has partnered with the Texas Association of Behavior Analysts Autism Special Interest Group (TxABA-SIG) to offer a low cost, high quality, six hour intensive, hands-on training for parents, teachers, and therapists interested in learning the basic principles of applied behavior analysis for use with their children with autism or other disabilities.

FEAT-Houston invited Dr. Carlos Fernando Aparicio Naranjo to present the "ABC's" workshop in Spanish. Dr. Aparicio received his doctorate in psychology from the University of New Hampshire. He is a professor at the University of Guadalajara where he works at the Research Center for Behavioral Studies. The two set DVD is the professional recording of that ABC's workshop he presented.

Cost

The DVDs are free, but FEAT-Houston suggests a $20 donation so that we may reprint the DVDs when they have all been distributed.http://udgserv.cencar.udg.mx/~ceip/Aparicio.htmrders may be placed through the FEAT-Houston website. www.feathouston.org.

Software giant Microsoft, building supplier Home Depot, cover costs of behavioral treatments for autism.
May 11, 2007--SmartMoney.com

Microsoft, which sells the Windows operating system, and Home Depot, the familiar "big box" hardware and building supplies outlet, cover the costs of intensive behavior therapy for their employees' dependents with autism. Persuaded by the documented success of applied behavior analysis-based treatments for autism, these employers started providing substantial treatment benefits several years ago. They are among the few major employers that provide such benefits to their employees.

Parent advocacy was instrumental in getting the ball rolling. Behavior analysts at the University of Washington, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Marcus Institute provided expertise for program development. The stories at Microsoft and Home Depot are similar. As reported on May 8, 2007 on the SmartMoney.com web site:

"[Microsoft] worked extensively with the University of Washington's autism center to get an understanding of the condition, the types of treatment available, which showed the most promise"...The university provided background on Applied Behavioral Analysis, a type of behavior therapy for autism that has proven successful in many clinical studies. Once Microsoft decided ABA would be worth covering, the school helped the company design a benefit plan around the treatment.

Home Depot eventually was persuaded by unhappy employees to look more deeply into the issue of autism. Connally and her staff consulted various research centers that specialize in the treatment of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities...Home Depot eventually fashioned a package of autism benefits that was essentially written by medical experts from the Marcus Institute and the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a treatment and research center in Baltimore. (SmartMoney.com, May 8, 2007)

Few other companies or insurers provide the kind of support for effective autism treatments that Microsoft and Home Depot do. These examples suggest that this situation can be changed by strong advocacy within the corporation along with the assistance of knowledgeable behavior analysts. From the perspective of the company, support for well-done early intensive therapy has significant long-term financial benefits, can reduce employee absenteeism, and has significant social benefits (cost-benefit analysis).