Reseach Summaries

DO NOT CITE WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM AUTHOR

Principle Investigator:

• Jennifer L. Smith
• Email: pediot@yahoo.com

Date:  

• Masters’ Thesis Completed December 2004

Research Questions:                                              

• Does the application of a Therapeutic Listening intervention decrease the frequency of sensory defensive behaviors in a child with autism?
• Does the application of a Therapeutic Listening intervention increase the frequency of more functional behaviors such as verbal communication of needs, participation in therapeutic or academic activities with increased independence, following verbal directions, and social gaze in a child with autism?

Participants:

One child with autism who displays sensory defensive behaviors (tactile, auditory, or visual).

Design:  

Single case study using a withdrawal A-B-A-B design

Instruments:  

• Semi-structured interviews
• Videotape analysis
• Behavioral observation
• Review of historical records

Abstract:

This study explores the use of a Therapeutic Listening program in addition to an existing occupational therapy program to decrease sensory defensive behaviors that included visual disregard and auditory disregard. A withdrawal A-B-A-B single subject design was used to evaluate the treatment effects of this intervention. The parents of the 5-year-old boy diagnosed with autism were trained on how to administer the Therapeutic Listening program. The program was administered twice a day for 30-minutes for each treatment phase. Applied Behavioral Analysis sessions were videotaped 30 minutes each day for the 9 week period of this study and data were collected using a frequency recording sheet on previously identified behaviors. Data were analyzed using a two band standard deviations method and the mean of scores across phases were calculated for each behavior. Significant improvements were seen in the participant’s visual regard to people and tasks and auditory regard to verbal directions and questions. There was a non-significant decrease in the amount of cueing or redirection needed. Data gathered on auditory response to environmental sounds were inconclusive.