Harnessing Communication Preferences to Enhance Its Persistence and Mitigate Relapse of Challenging Behavior

Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (2) locations...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate how preference for communication approach (e.g., using a touch talker versus picture cards) impacts treatment maintenance in the context of treatment to reduce challenging behavior exhibited by individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. As well, the clinical trial will evaluate how this preference impacts treatment relapse when care providers implement intervention and will identify potential demographic variables (e.g., age and symptom severity) that affect outcomes. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer \[is/are\]: Preferred communication strategies will persist to a greater extent when intervention is disrupted, relative to less preferred communication strategies. Communication modality preference will increase persistence for individuals with lower pre-experimental symptom severity scores and higher pre-experimental communication functioning scores. We predict demographic characteristics and developmental level will not impact intervention outcomes. Two groups will be compared. Group 1 will receive initial intervention using a preferred communication strategy. Group 2 will receive initial intervention using a non preferred, but effective, communication strategy. Intervention type will then be reversed. Researchers will compare preferred and non preferred interventions on continued expression of the communication strategy when intervention is challenged. Participants will exhibit alternative appropriate communicative behavior as a means of replacing/reducing challenging behavior. This will take place using (a) preferred communication strategies and (b) non preferred communication strategies. Following successful intervention with each type of communication, intervention will be challenged and continued use of the communication strategy will be measured.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 2
Maximum Age: 90
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• 2 years old and older.

• Diagnosis of intellectual or developmental disability.

• Referred for assessment and treatment of challenging behavior.

Locations
United States
Georgia
University of Georgia
RECRUITING
Athens
Iowa
University of Iowa
RECRUITING
Iowa City
Contact Information
Primary
Joel Ringdahl, PhD
ringdahl@uga.edu
319-594-2071
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-08-15
Estimated Completion Date: 2031-03-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 60
Treatments
Experimental: PrefFCT
PrefFCT involves reinforcing an appropriate communicative response determined to be preferred by the individual relative to a second appropriate communicative response. During PrefFCT, participants will receive access to the functionally relevant reinforcer following occurrences of the specified communication modality. Challenging behavior will not produce any programmed consequence.
Experimental: NonPrefFCT
NonPrefFCT involves reinforcing an appropriate communicative response determined to be less preferred by the individual relative to another appropriate communicative response. During NonPrefFCT, participants will receive access to the functionally relevant reinforcer following occurrences of the specified communication modality. Challenging behavior will not produce any programmed consequence.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Collaborators: University of Florida, University of Iowa, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Leads: Joel E. Ringdahl

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov