ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT OF FINGER SUCKING

• Published in: Journal of applied behavior analysis Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 41 - 52
• Main Authors: Ellingson, Sherry A., Miltenberger, Raymond G., Stricker, Jason M., Garlinghouse, Matthew A., Roberts, Jennifer, Galensky, Tami L., Rapp, John T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2000; Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• Subjects: automatic reinforcement; Awareness; awareness enhancement device; Behavior modification; Behavior Therapy; Child; Child psychology; Female; finger sucking; Fingersucking - psychology; functional analysis; Hands; Humans; Male; Motivation; Reinforcement, Social; sensory attenuation
• ISSN: 0021-8855; 1938-3703
• DOI: 10.1901/jaba.2000.33-41

We analyzed and treated the finger sucking of 2 developmentally typical children aged 7 and 10 years. The functional analysis revealed that the finger sucking of both children was exhibited primarily during alone conditions, suggesting that the behavior was maintained by automatic reinforcement. An extended analysis provided support for this hypothesis and demonstrated that attenuation of stimulation produced by the finger sucking resulted in behavior reductions for both children. Treatment consisted of having each child wear a glove on the relevant hand during periods when he or she was alone. Use of the glove produced zero levels of finger sucking for 1 participant, whereas only moderate reductions were obtained for the other. Subsequently, an awareness enhancement device was used that produced an immediate reduction in finger sucking.