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The collateral decrease of self‐injurious behavior with teaching communicative gestures to individuals who are mentally retarded
Author(s) -
Duker Pieter C.,
Jol Karel,
Palmen Annemiek
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
behavioral interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.605
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1099-078X
pISSN - 1072-0847
DOI - 10.1002/bin.2360060304
Subject(s) - gesture , psychology , collateral , nonverbal communication , mentally retarded , developmental psychology , linguistics , philosophy , finance , economics
The present study assessed the effect of teaching communicative gestures on the occurrence of self‐injurious behavior and other behavior disorders with 14 individuals who are severely/ profoundly mentally retarded. Results show a statistically significant decrease of about 40% in self‐injurious behavior as a collateral effect of an increased use of communicative gestures. Apart from a decrease in the occurrence of destructive behaviors, no other effects on other behavior disorders were found. Results are discussed in terms of the possible use of communicative gestures as a therapeutic supplement to standard procedures for decreasing self‐injurious behavior with individuals who are nonverbal and mentally retarded.