Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment - Essay Example

"Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment" is a great example of a paper on the disorder.

The article starts by defining what stereotype means as a repetitive motor movement with no adaptive purpose. Individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), exhibit this form of stereotype, which is highly stigmatizing in society. Such individuals have limited social interactions that interfere with their leisure engagements and involvement in self-care tasks. Additionally, their skill acquisition in academic settings is profoundly affected. This calls for the need to have a practical assessment of the stereotyping and effective intervention measures. The use of automatically reinforced problem behavior is challenging to treat this problem since no specific reinforcement can be identified. Resultantly, differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) is used to treat this stereotyping. The current study compares DRA and DRO contingencies when used in the treatment of stereotypes. During the investigation, caregiver-nominated vocational activities were included in evaluating the effectiveness of DRA and DRO.

Methods

For methodology, the author incorporated various elements in investigating the research question. For participants, the researchers used 3 participants, John and Nick, aged 14 years old, and Solomon aged 16 years old. The three participants had been diagnosed with ASD and were attending a residential school for the set for intellectually challenged children. To investigate the applicability of DRA and DRO, the three were assessed in their classroom with no other learners present in the classroom.

During the session, a primary data collector was used in scoring the stereotype and task productivity. John's stereotype involved wringing of hand, circular motion waving, swiping fingers on the desk, and jumping. Nick's stereotype involved rocking the body, flapping hands, tapping hands, and waving. Solomon's session included rocking the body and picking of the skin. As a way of assessing the participants' inter-observer agreement (IOA), the researchers used video records spaced at the intervals of 33%. The authors conducted a functional analysis with the aim of ruling out the source sources of reinforcement during the assessment of stereotypes. As a way of identifying the edibles to use during the treatment, the authors resorted to the paired-stimulus preference assessment (PISPA).

Results

In tabulating the results, the authors indicated the observation that they made for each participant. For John, it emerged that no essential difference was noted across the material sets that were used. When DRA and DRO were used during the session, there was a decrease in stereotypes. However, it did not have a meaningful impact on fulfilling the objective of the research question in John's case for DRO.

For Nick, stereotype and task engagement took place moderately, and there was no difference in the materials set. DRO and DRA contingencies resulted in a decreased stereotype during the session. DRO did not result in reduced stereotypes as had been predicted in the research question. The DRA schedule was fading as tokens were being converted to edible. For Solomon, DRA and DRO treatment bore the same outcome. However, DRA had a greater increase in engagement as contrasted to DRO. Essentially, these results supported the assertion that DRA and DRO are the effective contingencies that are applied in the treatment of stereotypes exhibited for ASD children.

Discussion

I agree with the authors to the extent that they try to showcase how DRA and DRO are essential contingencies in the treatment of stereotypes of ASD patients. Through the two processes, the stereotyping of ASD decreases. However, I do not agree with them, concluding that DRA and DRO are the only solutions used in treating stereotypes. The authors should have delved into a discussion of how stigmatization of ASD patients can be remedied in society.

For methodology, the researchers attempted to hide the identity of the participants. However, owing to the issue's sensitivity, they ought to have given the participants some codes for identification. Revealing their names goes contrary to the ethical guidelines. Additionally, the researchers used minors in the course of their study. All three participants were minors. As such, they ought to have sought parental consent before recruiting them to be part of the study. The authors do not indicate that they sought the permission of the participant's parents or guardians.

The study seems satisfactory by a glance. However, it would be paramount if a follow-up experiment is conducted to reveal if the three participants get societal recognition and acceptance after being subjected to the treatment indicated in the study. This will go along in fulfilling the objective of the study in its entirety. This follow-up experiment should be extended to incorporate a sample of the representative from the society where the three participants come from. The study is relevant in the learning area since it has shown how some forms of treatment are efficacious in correcting societal stereotypes while others are not. It paves the way for deciding on which plan to apply while handling intellectually disabled individuals in society.