Open AccessExamining the Collateral Effects of Reducing Voice Level on Vocal Stereotypy and Functional Speech
Author(s) -
Molly E. Campbell,
Diana Delgado,
Laura Casey,
James N. Meindl,
William C. Hunter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
behavior analysis in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2196-8934
pISSN - 1998-1929
DOI - 10.1007/s40617-020-00526-8
Subject(s) - stereotypy , psychology , audiology , antecedent (behavioral psychology) , developmental psychology , neuroscience , medicine , amphetamine , dopamine
The current study examined the collateral effects of an antecedent intervention for decreasing speech volume on vocal stereotypy. After teaching the participant to use a conversational voice level by providing visual feedback from a decibel meter app, conversational voice levels were differentially reinforced in the presence of a green card. Differential effects in voice magnitude during a green-card condition and a no-card condition were demonstrated using an alternating-treatments design. Results showed a decrease in volume of speech during the green-card condition, an overall decrease in vocal stereotypy, and a decrease to zero levels in loud stereotypical vocalizations. The implications of these findings on the treatment of vocal stereotypy are discussed.