Addressing challenging behavior in children with Down syndrome: The use of applied behavior analysis for assessment and intervention

Kathleen Feeley, and Emily Jones

Children with Down syndrome are at an increased risk for engaging in challenging behavior that may be part of a behavioral phenotype characteristic of Down syndrome. The methodology of applied behavior analysis has been demonstrated effective with a wide range of challenging behaviors, across various disabilities. Applications to children with Down syndrome and the examination of behaviorally based strategies to specifically address the unique characteristics of children with Down syndrome are limited. However, there are several studies in which a subset of the participants did have Down syndrome. A handful of these studies are reviewed within the context of functional behavior assessment and Positive Behavioural Supports. Drawing from these studies and the behavioral literature, as well as the authors' clinical experience and research, suggestions regarding early intervention for challenging behavior with children with Down syndrome are provided.

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Feeley, K, and Jones, E. (2006) Addressing challenging behavior in children with Down syndrome: The use of applied behavior analysis for assessment and intervention. Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 11(2), 64-77. doi:10.3104/perspectives.316

Children with Down syndrome have a propensity to engage in behaviors that can be particularly problematic for family members and caregivers, as well as professionals who work with them. Such behavior, referred to by Doss and Reichle (1991) as challenging behavior, is defined as that which results "…in self-injury or injury of others, causes damage to the physical environment, interferes with the acquisition of new skills, and/or socially isolates the learner" (p. 215). The presence of challenging behavior, along with characterisations such as "stubborn," have long been noted in the literature (Gibson, 1978). More recently, parent and teacher ratings indicate that children with Down syndrome show higher rates (than typically developing children) of attention problems, social withdrawal, noncompliance, and compulsions (such as arranging objects and repeating certain actions) (e.g., Coe et al., 1999; Evans & Gray, 2000) and high rates of self-talk (Glenn & Cunningham, 2000). Additionally, behaviors associated with anxiety, depression, and withdrawal, have been noted to increase with age (Dykens & Kasari, 1997).

There are specific physical characteristics of Down syndrome (e.g., those associated with sleep disorders) (Richdale, Francis, Gavidia-Payne & Cotton, 2000; Stores, 1993) as well as a higher incidence of illness (Roizen, 1996) that may significantly impact the behavioral repertoires, including increasing the likelihood of challenging behavior, in children with Down syndrome. Researchers have also demonstrated that challenging behavior, particularly avoidance behavior, appears consistently in very young infants with Down syndrome (Wishart, 1993a, 1993b). Specifically, when presented with task demands just slightly above their current level of ability, children with Down syndrome demonstrate a unique pattern of behavior involving opting out of learning opportunities and misusing social behaviors. It appears that the presence of the extra chromosome associated with Down syndrome affects the likelihood of challenging behavior beginning in infancy. In turn, these behaviors can have catastrophic effects; interfering with learning in children with Down syndrome, not only at the foundational level during infancy, but throughout life.

These characteristics that impact the behavior repertoire reflect a unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses evident in individuals with Down syndrome and have been described as a distinct cluster of behaviors termed a behavioral phenotype. Dykens (1995) defined behavioral phenotype as "…the heightened probability or likelihood that people with a given syndrome will exhibit certain behavioral and developmental sequela relative to those without the syndrome" (p. 523). This does not mean that all children with Down syndrome will demonstrate all of the characteristic behaviors; rather, there will be in an increased likelihood.

The early developing avoidance behavior reported by Wishart and colleagues along with reports of other challenging behavior is believed to be part of this phenotype in very young children with Down syndrome (Fidler, 2005). Thus, it is of utmost importance to intervene on the behaviors characteristic of this behavioral phenotype early on so that they do not result in pronounced deficits within the child's later development.

Challenging behavior not only precludes individuals with Down syndrome from learning opportunities within their environment, but also prevents them from accessing more typical educational and community environments as they approach preschool and school age. When placement in a general education or community setting does occur, challenging behavior is likely to be the cause of removal from these settings. This is particularly unfortunate, as general education settings have been found to lead to more positive outcomes for children with Down syndrome (Buckley, Bird, Sacks & Archer, 2002; Cunningham, Glenn, Lorenz, Cuckle & Shepperdson, 1998). Therefore, interventionists who are likely to encounter behavior that may be associated with later negative outcomes must be prepared to address such behavior so that children with Down syndrome benefit from learning opportunities and are less likely to be precluded from general education/community placements.

Fortunately, the methodology of applied behavior analysis, demonstrated effective across a wide range of populations, with various disabilities, can be utilised to address the unique characteristics of challenging behavior demonstrated by children with Down syndrome. With thousands of studies demonstrating the positive impact of interventions based on the principles of behavior analysis on the lives of individuals with disabilities, both researchers and practitioners have long relied on this scientific literature to address the challenging behavior of individuals with developmental disabilities. Recently, the technology of Positive Behaviour Support (Carr et al., 2002) has emerged as an application of the principles of behavior analysis to not only address skill repertoires, but also redesign individuals' living environments with the goal of achieving enhanced quality of life and decreases in problem behavior (Carr et al., 1999).

To date, researchers have not specifically applied the principles of behavior analysis and positive behavior support to meet the unique behavioral challenges presented by individuals with Down syndrome. However, in an extensive review of the literature, we identified a small number of studies utilising behavioral assessment strategies, as well as several intervention studies that addressed severe challenging behavior in individuals with Down syndrome. The focus of these investigations was not on the unique characteristics of individuals with Down syndrome, rather the focus was a particular form of challenging behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury) or a particular intervention strategy (e.g., reinforcement) and involved either a sole participant who had Down syndrome or several participants, only one or two of whom had Down syndrome.

In this paper, we briefly describe applied behavior analysis and its applications in assessing and addressing challenging behaviors prevalent in children with Down syndrome. We then draw upon the existing literature as well as our clinical experience and ongoing research to provide suggestions regarding behaviorally based applications to ameliorate specific challenging behaviors associated with Down syndrome in an effort to intervene as early as possible on this aspect of the behavioral phenotype characteristic of children with Down syndrome.

Applied behavior analysis

Based upon the seminal work of Baer, Wolf and Risley (1968), applied behavior analysis emphasizes interventions addressing socially significant age-appropriate behaviors with immediate importance to the individual using precise measurement of those behaviors in need of improvement. Generalised behaviors, that is, behaviors that are maintained over time, appear in other environments, and extend to other behaviors, are targeted. A functional relationship between changes in behavior and the intervention being implemented is demonstrated. Interventions, derived from the basic principles of behavior (e.g., reinforcement, extinction), are described so that they can be easily replicated, and their effectiveness is measured by improvement in the individual's performance.

Functions of challenging behavior

It has long been established that challenging behavior is directly related to environmental variables (e.g., how the behavior is consequated). From a behavior analytic perspective, challenging behaviors are maintained because they are positively reinforced (i.e., result in the delivery of a preferred item/activity) and/or are negatively reinforced (i.e., result in the removal of a nonpreferred item/activity). O'Neill, Horner, Albin, Storey and Sprague (1997) described these two major functional categories of behavior as either to obtain or to escape/avoid. That is, behavior may function to obtain consequences such as attention (e.g., from a parent or teacher) and access to objects (e.g., snacks, toys) or activities (e.g., recess, trip to the park). Behaviour may also function to escape/avoid consequences such as attention (e.g., interactions with peers) and objects (e.g., certain foods) or activities (e.g., academic tasks).

In addition to the functions of obtain or escape/avoid, O'Neill et al., (1997) further categorise the functions of challenging behaviors in terms of socially or nonsocially motivated behaviors. Socially motivated behaviors involve those in which the child seeks to escape/avoid or obtain something from another individual in their environment. Behaviours serving a social function in children with developmental disabilities are often related to impairments in communication skills (Carr & Durand, 1985; Durand & Carr, 1991; 1992). Nonsocially motivated behaviors involve those in which the child seeks to escape/avoid or obtain internal stimuli (i.e., sensory stimulation) and, thus, do not involve consequences related to another individual. These nonsocially motivated behaviors are often referred to as 'self-stimulatory' behaviors.

The work of Wishart (1993a; 1993b) and Wishart and Duffy (1990) suggests that certain functions of challenging behavior may be more characteristic of children with Down syndrome and part of the characteristic behavioral phenotype. In particular, both escape and attention seeking functions seem prevalent in Wishart's reports of performance during assessment tasks. Specifically, Wishart and colleagues (Pitcairn & Wishart, 1994; Wishart, 1986; Wishart & Duffy, 1990) report avoidance behaviors ranging from disruptive tantrum behaviors (e.g., sweeping test items off the table) to charming or 'cute' behaviors (e.g., clapping, blowing raspberries) that might distract the evaluator during task demands. The overlapping attention seeking function of such task avoidance behaviors was also noted by Kasari and Freeman (2001) who confirmed the higher frequency of these 'charming' behaviors in older children with Down syndrome (6-10 years). In fact, in their study, children with Down syndrome engaged in higher rates of looking to the experimenter during a task situation that may have been related to the significantly longer latency to start and complete tasks, when compared to typically developing children and children with mental retardation not related to Down syndrome.

As a result of these findings, it seems that both escape and attention seeking behaviors may be particularly prevalent in children with Down syndrome. To determine the extent to which an individual child possesses these specific characteristics (increased likelihood of engaging in escape/avoid or attention motivated problem behavior) of the behavioral phenotype, interventionists can conduct a functional behavior assessment. Not only will this enable interventionists to explore this aspect of the behavioral phenotype, but specific antecedents and consequences associated with the challenging behavior can be determined.

Functional behavior assessment

While certain functions (e.g., escape, obtain attention) may be associated with Down syndrome, challenging behavior can serve a variety of functions within and across individual children. Therefore, the foundation of addressing challenging behavior is determining the function a specific challenging behavior serves for a particular child (i.e., to obtain or escape/avoid; socially or non-socially motivated). This is accomplished via the functional behavior assessment process in which the relationship between events in a person's environment and the occurrence of challenging behavior is determined in an effort to identify factors maintaining that behavior. (The reader is referred to O'Neill et al.'s [1997] practical handbook for a detailed discussion of functional behavior assessment procedures.)

Interview

The first step in the functional assessment process consists of an interview to identify the behavior of concern; related environmental/medical factors; and when/where/with whom and during which activities the behavior occurs most/least. The goal is to identify factors that are related to the occurrence of challenging behavior.

In the past, when addressing challenging behavior, the field of applied behavior analysis concentrated on the immediate antecedents and consequences. However, several behaviorists have recognised that events occurring more distally in time or not directly related to the immediate antecedents or consequences affect the likelihood of challenging behavior (Michael, 1982; 2000; Wahler & Fox, 1981). Such variables have been referred to as motivating operations (Michael, 2000) as well as setting events (Wahler & Fox, 1981). Specifically, motivating operations refer to antecedents that affect an individual's behavior by changing the value (increasing or decreasing) of a consequence (reinforcer or punisher) which, in turn, changes the likelihood the individual will engage in a certain behavior (either increasing or decreasing the likelihood). For example, a child may be motivated to follow the directions (immediate antecedent) of his teacher because doing so results in a pleasant interaction (i.e., the teacher smiles and praises the child; reinforcing consequence). However, if the child has a cold, the reinforcing value of the smile and praise may be significantly decreased, thus, decreasing the likelihood the child will engage in compliant behavior in response to the teacher's requests. In this situation, the cold is a motivating operation.

The term motivating operation has been used to describe the effect a specific event has on the quality of a future consequence (e.g., reinforcer) and, thus, the likelihood of the target behavior occurring. Within the Positive Behaviour Support literature, the term setting event is widely used to represent the phenomena described (Horner, Vaughn, Day & Ard, 1996). Several studies have been conducted describing a relationship between different setting events (e.g., illness, sleep problems) in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and a propensity to engage in challenging behavior (e.g., Dadson & Horner, 1993; McGill, Teer, Rye & Hughes, 2005).

We suggest that the propensity of individuals with Down syndrome to engage in challenging behavior is directly related to several motivating operations (or setting events) that are inherently related to the presence of Down syndrome. For example, Stores (1993) found more frequent sleep problems, including restless sleep, waking more than once per night, and waking prior to 5:00 am, in children with Down syndrome compared to typically developing children. The higher incidence of sleep problems appears to be related to several physical features (specifically, upper airway obstruction due in part to relatively small mouths and airway passages, enlarged tonsils, and obesity) (Stores & Stores, 1996). These sleep problems were also associated with daytime problem behavior: specifically, irritability, hyperactivity, and stereotypies (Richdale et al., 2000; Stores, 1993). Thus, sleep disorders may be one motivating operation that affects the likelihood of challenging behavior in children with Down syndrome.

There is also a high incidence of illness in children with Down syndrome (e.g., recurrent ear infections, gastrointestinal disorders, skin conditions) (Roizen, 1996). The onset of an illness, its presence, as well as the ending stages, may be motivating operations affecting the behavior of children with Down syndrome, as is often the case with typically developing children. As the frequency and severity of these illnesses is increased in individuals with Down syndrome, the incidence of challenging behavior is likely to be increased as well.

It is during the interview process that environmental events including setting events/motivating operations, antecedents, and consequences, as well as target behaviors are identified. It is here that interventionists should closely examine the extent to which specific motivating operations (or setting events) associated with Down syndrome affect the individual's likelihood of engaging in challenging behavior. Just as the function of behavior is likely to vary across individuals, the specific antecedents and consequences as well as the presence of motivating operations (or setting events) are likely to be unique to each child with Down syndrome and require careful assessment to determine which are relevant for a given child.

Direct observation

The second component of the functional behavior assessment process consists of direct observation of the individual and documentation of events that occur prior to and following the challenging behavior. One example is an antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) analysis, in which antecedents and consequences are documented as they occur in the natural environment. The child is observed during his/her daily routine and the occurrence of challenging behaviors, events that precede the specific behavior (antecedents), and events that follow the specific behavior (consequences) are documented. Analysis of the pattern of antecedents and consequences results in a hypothesised function of the challenging behavior. See Table 1 for an ABC data sheet with guidelines regarding information that should be included and Table 2 for an example ABC data sheet with sample behaviors.

Functional analysis

Often, the function of a particular challenging behavior for a child can be identified through the interview and direct observation process. However, a more systematic approach may be necessary to confirm observation findings and/or determine the function, if it has not been clearly identified. Functional analysis consists of the systematic manipulation of controlling variables to demonstrate the function of the behavior (the reader is referred to O'Neill et al., 1997 as well as Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman & Richman, 1982 for explicit procedures). Functional analysis involves measuring challenging behavior as a series of conditions are introduced. Consequence conditions include situations in which: attention is delivered contingent upon the occurrence of challenging behavior (attention condition); demands are removed contingent upon the occurrence of challenging behavior (demand condition); tangibles are delivered contingent upon the occurrence of challenging behavior (tangible condition); the child is left alone and no consequences are delivered by others (alone condition); and a condition involving noncontingent delivery of preferred items and attention (free play or control condition). Antecedent conditions can also be manipulated, such as task difficulty or attention provided while engaged in the task. The conditions in which the challenging behavior occurs are indicative of the factor(s) occasioning and/or maintaining the behavior. For example, if higher rates of challenging behavior occur within the demand condition than within the other conditions, escape would appear to be the function of the challenging behavior.

Once the functional behavior assessment process is complete, and the function of the challenging behavior identified, intervention procedures can be developed that specifically address the challenging behavior and the function it serves for that individual. Interventionists should draw from the large number of empirically validated studies demonstrating the facilitative effects of behavior analytic procedures.

Intervention

An effective means of addressing challenging behavior, Positive Behaviour Support (Carr et al., 2002), is rooted in behavior analytic strategies. Positive Behaviour Support consists of strategies addressing multiple variables influencing the occurrence of challenging behavior. When utilised at an individual level, Positive Behaviour Support interventions consist of the development of a four component approach which includes strategies to address motivating operations/setting events and immediate antecedents, interventions to teach replacement skills (e.g., communication, academic, social), and the development of appropriate consequence strategies (e.g., reinforcement strategies) as outlined in Figure 1. To illustrate behavioral applications within this four component framework, we will provide a brief description of a select few studies implemented with children with Down syndrome, followed by additional suggestions for interventions based upon the research literature and our clinical experience and research. The studies utilising behavioral strategies with individuals with Down syndrome we will discuss are outlined in Table 3.

Figur e 1: Components of a Positive Behaviour Support Plan with example interventions.

Addressing setting events (motivating operations)

Because the term setting event is used in the Positive Behaviour Support literature, we have chosen to use it in our discussion of intervention strategies. One setting event that we hypothesise may be specifically associated with Down syndrome is the tendency toward an increased desire to escape/avoid demands and to obtain attention as suggested by Wishart's research (1993a, 1993b). McComas, Thompson and Johnson (2003) utilised a setting event intervention strategy consisting of presessions during which attention was provided. Several children participated in this study, two of whom had Down syndrome (11 and 12 year old boys). In one condition, attention was delivered noncontingently (i.e., regardless of the child's behavior) during the 10 minutes prior to engagement in tasks likely to elicit challenging behaviors (i.e., during presessions). In the second condition, students were ignored during the 10 minute presessions. Although, the presession condition in which attention was provided had no effect on the challenging behavior of the child who was escape motivated, the child who was attention motivated engaged in challenging behavior during subsequent tasks almost exclusively when no attention was delivered during the presessions.

McComas et al.'s (2003) study demonstrated the effectiveness of an intervention procedure to specifically address a setting event, in this case, the increased desire for attention. It is important to note, attention served as a reinforcer in the target situation for only one of the two children with Down syndrome (as confirmed by the functional assessment process), while the challenging behavior of the other child served to escape. Thus, although there is an increased likelihood of some setting events in children with Down syndrome, not all may be pertinent to all children with Down syndrome. Additionally, once the functional assessment process has been completed (taking into account setting events), interventionists should select intervention strategies that directly correspond to the findings. For example, as illustrated by McComas et al., presession attention did not affect individuals who engage in challenging behavior serving functions other than to obtain attention.

Other setting events, such as sleep disorders and illness, that warrant attention specifically in children with Down syndrome, may be addressed by developing a mechanism for caregivers to share with school personnel when a child has experienced a particular setting event. Checklists can be designed to specifically note setting events influencing the child's challenging behavior. Alternatively, setting events can be reported via a note sent to school or a telephone call. School personnel can then consider several interventions designed to ameliorate the effects of the specific setting event (e.g., Dadson & Horner, 1993; Horner et al., 1996). For example, a child's illness may increase the likelihood that he/she engages in self stimulatory behavior (e.g., repetitive hand movements). In this case, the child might be given the opportunity to access materials that would function as a replacement response (e.g., holding onto a small textured toy stored within the front pocket of a sweatshirt). Another child who experiences trouble sleeping might be more likely to desire to escape demands. In this case, the child may be given an opportunity to rest at some point during the day, or school staff might consider reducing their demands (e.g., requesting fewer academic tasks) on days following disrupted sleep. The effects of the setting events may also be ameliorated through the delivery of higher rates and/or higher quality of reinforcement. This reinforcement should be delivered before the child is likely to engage in the challenging behavior (Marcus & Vollmer, 1996). For example, a child can be greeted at the bus with high rates of quality attention and, therefore, may be less likely to engage in attention motivated challenging behavior upon entering the classroom.

Strategies to address setting events can have substantial effects on the likelihood of challenging behavior. However, in many instances, it may also be necessary to consider interventions that target immediate antecedents.

Antecedent based strategies

Intervention strategies targeting stimuli that occur just prior to the child engaging in challenging behavior are termed antecedent based strategies (Kern, Choutka & Sokol, 2002). These strategies aim to prevent the occurrence of challenging behavior by altering the antecedent situations associated with it (e.g., decreasing the aversiveness of the antecedent stimuli). Thus, these strategies are implemented proactively, that is, prior to the point at which the challenging behavior is likely to occur (identified via the functional assessment process). Four strategies may be particularly relevant to decrease the escape and/or attention motivated challenging behaviors often seen in children with Down syndrome: choices, high probability request sequence, collaboration, and preferred item as distractor.

Offering choices (e.g., of tasks, materials, locations, etc.) is a strategy that has been effectively used in a number of studies to decrease challenging behavior (e.g., Bambara, Koger, Katze & Davenport, 1995; Dunlap, et al., 1994; Dyer, Dunlap & Winterling, 1990). In one application with a 7 year old boy with Down syndrome, Cole and Levinson (2002) demonstrated the effectiveness of embedding choices within the daily routine of hand washing, a situation during which the boy was likely to engage in challenging behavior (e.g., throwing/destroying items, hitting, and dropping to the floor). Rather than delivering a directive regarding how to complete a step within the task (e.g., "Rub your hands"), the child was offered choices regarding how the step could be completed (e.g., "Do you want to rub them together quickly or slowly?"). Challenging behavior decreased while independent task participation increased. Thus, while presenting tasks that trigger challenging behavior, choices can be offered with respect to a variety of aspects, such as location (e.g., "You can work at your desk or at the group table"), peers ("Would you like to walk with John or Mary?"), or materials (e.g., "You can use your pencil or my blue pen") to decrease escape motivated challenging behaviors.

Another antecedent strategy, high probability request sequence, involves the delivery of a series of requests to which the child is highly like to comply (a high probability request) each of which is followed by the delivery of reinforcers, then a request to which the child is not likely to comply, that is, a low probability request (the one that triggers the challenging behavior) is delivered. For example, Davis, Brady, Williams and Hamilton (1992) successfully utilised high probability request sequence to increase compliance and decrease challenging behavior (screaming, hitting, kicking, spitting) in a 7 year old boy with Down syndrome. Behaviour change generalised across classroom staff and was maintained during a series of 4 weekly follow up probes. High probability request sequences have not only been effective in decreasing challenging behaviors (Horner, Day, Sprague, O'Brien & Heathfield, 1991; Mace & Belfiore, 1990), but also increasing compliance (Mace et al., 1988; Singer, Singer & Horner, 1987), particularly during transitions (Davis, Reichle & Southard, 2000), as well as increasing social interactions (Davis, Brady, McEvoy & Williams, 1994; Davis & Reichle, 1996) and communicative behaviors (Davis, Reichle & Johnston, 1998). This strategy may be particularly effective with a child who is not only escape/avoid motivated, but also attention motivated, because, inherent in the high probability request sequence, each compliant response results in social reinforcement (e.g., praise).

A third antecedent strategy that may be particularly effective for children with Down syndrome who not only desire to escape/avoid a task, but also obtain attention, is an offer of collaboration (Davis, McEvoy & Riechle, 2005). This entails sharing the responsibility of the task with the child. For example, during a worksheet task, the interventionist tells the child, "You do the first five items and I'll do the last five." Over time, the amount of assistance provided by the interventionist can be systematically faded (e.g., "You do the first six, and I'll do the last four") until the child is performing independently.

Lastly, preferred item as a distractor (Davis et al., 2000) involves presenting a child with a preferred item to distract them from the aversiveness of the task that triggers challenging behavior. The preferred item is systematically presented prior to, or simultaneous with, the request that is likely to occasion the challenging behavior. For example, a child can be given a favourite toy and then requested to take a walk to another instructional area. Alternatively, the interventionist may embed the preferred item (e.g., whistle) into the request (e.g., "Can you hold the whistle while we walk in from recess?").

For antecedent strategies to be effective, it is essential for interventionists to be fluent in their use, paying particular attention to implementing the strategies prior to presenting the antecedents that are associated with the behavior. While setting event and antecedent based intervention strategies serve to proactively decrease the likelihood that challenging behavior will occur, it is important to recognise the function the challenging behavior serves for a particular child and teach replacement skills for the child to use to obtain what they want through more appropriate means.

Replacement skills

Many individuals with Down syndrome can benefit from instruction in specific skills (e.g., communication, social, academic, etc.) that function to replace challenging behavior with a more appropriate means of obtaining reinforcers. One type of skill building strategy, functional communication training, involves identifying and teaching a more appropriate communicative response serving the same function as the challenging behavior (Carr et al., 1994).

Several researchers (e.g., Brooks, Todd, Tofflemoyer & Horner, 2003; Hetzroni & Roth, 2003) have implemented functional communication training with children with Down syndrome. For example, Hall, Neuharth-Pritchet and Belfiore (1997) determined that the aggressive and destructive behaviors of a 9 year old boy with Down syndrome served the function of both escape (the wait) and attention when he was required to wait after completing a task. He was taught to indicate when he was finished by raising his hand and saying "done" which resulted in the delivery of a brief, in-seat academic activity. Acquisition of this replacement response resulted in a decrease in aggressive/destructive behaviors that generalised from his special education classroom to a general education classroom.

As the speech and language skills of individuals with Down syndrome are specifically impaired, their ability to communicate desires is likely to be compromised and, thus, related to the occurrence of challenging behavior. Based on the extensive literature examining the effectiveness of functional communication training (e.g., Carr & Durand, 1985; Durand & Carr, 1991; 1992), communicative replacement strategies can be used to address a variety of communicative functions. For example, a child who desires to escape circle time activities can be taught to raise his/her hand to request to leave the area. For a child who desires attention, he/she can be taught to tap an adult's shoulder to request attention (e.g., to read a book). A child who tends to tantrum in the presence of desired objects can be taught to appropriately request the desired object (e.g., point to communication symbols "want" "[item]").

When teaching a child to communicate his/her desires instead of engaging in challenging behavior, it is crucial to reinforce appropriate communicative behaviors with immediate access to what the child desires (e.g., a break for a child who is escape motivated, attention for the child who is attention motivated). Once the communicative replacement response is acquired, it is possible to systematically teach the child to wait longer periods of time before the child can access what they desire. This intervention is referred to as teaching tolerance for delay of reinforcement (Carr et al., 1994). For example, once the child reliably uses the replacement communication skill (e.g., raising his/her hand), when the child makes the appropriate request, increasing amounts of time can be inserted before delivery of the reinforcer (e.g., tell the child "Just one minute.").

Replacement skills are particularly important as they provide the child with a communicative response that can be used across multiple situations to more appropriately obtain desirable outcomes. It is equally important for interventionists to also implement effective consequence strategies for both appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

Consequence strategies

Effective interventions addressing challenging behavior typically include reinforcement systems for appropriate behavior as well as consequences for inappropriate behavior. For example, Repp and Karsh (1994) conducted a study with two students, one of whom was a 9 year old girl with Down syndrome whose challenging behaviors consisted of tantrums (crying, falling to floor, kicking, hitting, throwing objects, and grabbing) and finger stereotypies (finger flexions) that had resulted in her removal from an integrated educational setting. Direct observation during baseline indicated that, although she engaged in tantrums within demand situations, she was consistently consequated with attention rather than withdrawal of demands. Intervention consisted of placing the tantrum behavior on extinction (in this case, no longer providing attention) as well as increasing the rate of reinforcement for task engagement (differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA), that is, reinforcement of the alternative behavior of task engagement), along with providing increased opportunities to engage in social interactions. This intervention package resulted in a decrease in challenging behavior which maintained at one year follow-up. Thus, a combination of consequence strategies for both the challenging behavior (i.e., extinction) and more appropriate behavior (i.e., DRA) were important components of effective intervention.

Repp and Karsh 's (1994) study illustrates two points with respect to consequence strategies. First, their findings that challenging behavior, in the presence of demands, may actually serve the purpose of accessing attention, are particularly relevant in light of Wishart's work (Wishart & Duffy, 1990; Pitcairn & Wishart, 1994) demonstrating the propensity of children with Down syndrome to engage in what appear to be escape motivated challenging behaviors. They do so, however, in a very social manner (e.g., engaging in party tricks) which often results in not only escaping/avoiding a task, but also obtaining attention. In many instances, the exact consequences maintaining challenging behavior may be unclear, making intervention selection difficult. However, systematic implementation of functional assessment procedures in conjunction with carefully chosen interventions that specifically address the escape and attention motivated functions of behavior can lead to significant changes in the behavioral repertoires of children with Down syndrome.

Second, Repp and Karsh 's (1994) study illustrates the use of reinforcement procedures (i.e., DRA) to decrease a challenging behavior. Another reinforcement procedure, differential reinforcement of the omission of behavior (DRO), is particularly effective with stereotypical behaviors (e.g., Repp, Deitz & Speir, 1974). DRO involves delivering reinforcement following an interval of time in which the challenging behavior did not occur. We have used this procedure with several children with Down syndrome to successfully decrease self-stimulatory behaviors (e.g., mouthing objects, tongue clicking, and lip licking). In all cases, functional assessment indicated the behaviors were non-socially motivated. Each child was initially reinforced on a dense schedule (e.g., every 30 seconds). The time interval was then quickly increased (to 1, 3, 5, and 10 minute intervals) to the point at which, for each of the children, the behavior completely subsided and continued reinforcement specifically for the absence of that self-stimulatory behavior was no longer necessary.

Two criticisms of DRO procedures are the intervention does not leave the individual with a specific skill, rather it only decreases the target behavior and in some instances, the function of the challenging behavior is not honoured (i.e., reinforcement is delivered based on the omission of the behavior with no specific functional equivalent response being taught). Thus, many interventionists prefer to implement differential reinforcement of alterative behaviors (DRA), such as that used by Repp and Karsh (1994), in which an alternative response is consistently reinforced. As another example, consider a child who has a tendency to place objects in his mouth to get attention. Appropriate responses (e.g., play behaviors with the objects) can be selected to systematically reinforce. If not readily within the child's repertoire, the child can be prompted to perform the behavior and then immediately provided with reinforcers. Thus, the challenging behavior (mouthing objects) can be replaced with an appropriate play behavior. In instances in which the alternative response is communicative in nature, such as within functional communication training, differential reinforcement (DRA) is in effect.

For socially motivated behaviors, such differential reinforcement procedures are often paired with extinction to increase their effectiveness. Extinction involves no longer delivering reinforcement following the occurrence of challenging behavior. Using the previous example, the target behavior (i.e., mouthing objects) would no longer be reinforced, thus, no attention would be delivered following its occurrence (i.e., extinction). This would be paired with high quality reinforcement (i.e., attention would be delivered following appropriate play behaviors) delivered following the alternative behavior. The function of challenging behavior must be considered, not only in consequating challenging behavior, but also in the choice of reinforcers to increase appropriate behavior. In the previous example, appropriate play behavior resulted in attention. As another example, a student who is escape motivated can be reinforced for appropriate task completion with the removal of one or several demands.

Reinforcement systems such as token economies, in which tokens (e.g., stickers, check marks) are delivered for appropriate behavior and then cashed in at some later point for backup reinforcers (e.g., toys, food), can also be used to reinforce appropriate behavior. Such token systems exist in many classrooms, but often need to be individualised to meet the unique needs of a particular child with Down syndrome. Token systems can even be used by caregivers within the home with very young children with Down syndrome and may be particularly relevant with escape behavior. For example, we have used token systems consisting of cartoon character tokens (e.g., Barney ^TM, Blues Clues ^TM) with children as young as two years of age to sustain performance during tasks where escape behavior was typically displayed.

With the development of empirically demonstrated behavioral intervention strategies, the systematic use of consequence strategies designed to decrease behavior (i.e., the use of punishment procedures) is likely unnecessary. The use of positive interventions has become so widespread that private and public policy statements specifically call for their use prior to consideration of reactive or punishment based procedures. For example, in the United States, federal education legislation (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004) specifically notes "In the case of a child whose behavior impedes the child's learning or that of others, consider the uses of proactive behavioral interventions and supports…" (Sec. 614). However, when positive approaches have been systematically applied with little success, the use of reactive procedures implemented to decrease the future likelihood of challenging behaviors may be warranted. For example, consider a child who destroys materials to escape/avoid academic demands. A multicomponent intervention may consist of giving the child a choice of academic activities, the use of a preferred item as a distractor (i.e., "You can use your markers to fill in these questions."), as well as teaching the child to request assistance when the academic task becomes difficult (functional communication training). When the appropriate behavior(s) occur, the child is immediately reinforced (DRA). However, in the event the target behavior does occur, that is, the child destroys the materials, interventionists might consider a consequence procedure that is likely to decrease the future occurrence of the behavior, such as the removal of a privilege (e.g., no recess) or an added chore (e.g., cleaning the dry erase board). In these instances, it is of utmost importance for intervention teams (including caregivers) to make informed decisions, in addition to acquiring consent from all necessary parties and monitoring intervention for desired effectiveness (Cooper, Heward & Heron, 1987).

Summary

As the four component approach of positive behavior support has effectively addressed challenging behavior in individuals with various developmental disabilities across the age span, it is also likely to effectively meet the needs of children with Down syndrome who engage in challenging behaviors. Positive behavior support interventions can be used to systematically address characteristics specific to Down syndrome (e.g., increased likelihood of engaging in avoidant and/or attention motivated behavior) as well as events that occur on an individualised basis. Additionally, as interventionists become versed in the functional assessment process and proactive interventions, they will find themselves naturally implementing many of these strategies, likely resulting in an overall decrease in challenging behaviors emitted by the children with Down syndrome with whom they work. In turn, increasing the child's likelihood of success in inclusive educational and community environments.

Future applications

Recent research suggests that the presence of escape and attention motivated challenging behavior may be part of the behavioral phenotype (Dykens, 1995; Fidler, 2005) that characterises Down syndrome. That is, the disability itself is characterised by a pattern of strengths and weaknesses that increase the likelihood of valuing certain consequences (i.e., escape and attention). McGill (1999) presented the idea that disabilities may function as motivating operations in his discussion of the decrease in the reinforcing value of attention in individuals with autism and the increase in the reinforcing value of food in individuals with Prader-Willi. Although not specifically mentioned by McGill, the work of Wishart and colleagues (Wishart, 1993a; 1993b; Pitcairn & Wishart, 1994; Wishart & Duffy, 1990), as well as the cluster of behaviors termed a behavioral phenotype, suggest Down syndrome should be included in the disabilities identified by McGill as motivating operations.

The presence of these challenging behaviors, even within the first year of life in children with Down syndrome, effectively reduces the child's learning interactions with his/her environment. As part of the behavioral phenotype characteristic of Down syndrome, we are challenged to develop strategies to ameliorate these tendencies at a very young age (Fidler, 2005), by first identifying the specific behaviors in which a child engages and then teaching caregivers to respond in such a way that these behaviors are not systematically reinforced (Gerenser, personal communication, June 6, 2004). For example, caregivers often make simple requests of a child that are followed by avoidance behavior (e.g., turning away). These avoidance behaviors are likely to result in some initial persistence on the part of the caregiver, but, in the face of further child resistance, caregivers may 'give up' and discontinue the request. In these situations, the child, who did not want to comply with the request, is ultimately reinforced; that is, avoidance (e.g., turning away) to respond results in the removal of the demand. Alternatively, caregivers can be taught to follow through with even simple requests. Therefore, when making a request, if the child does not respond, he/she is prompted to do so. Once the response occurs, even if prompted, reinforcement is immediately delivered. This results in teaching the child, from an early age, the benefits of following simple instructions and possibly curtailing a pervasive pattern of opting out as identified by Wishart (1993a, 1993b).

Another way to address escape behavior in young children with Down syndrome, especially in the presence of slightly more difficult tasks, may be to teach caregivers to manipulate items in the child's environment to make specific tasks less difficult. For example, if the child is having difficulty accessing toys in his environment, the parent might position toys so they are in reach, thus, pulling the toy closer can be more easily accomplished. Caregivers who are well versed in prompting strategies (e.g., the use of physical guidance or positioning of objects to enhance performance) as well as shaping procedures (i.e., reinforcing closer and closer approximations to the target response) can be advised to implement such strategies to enhance their child's performance with a given task. By using prompting and shaping procedures, adults are setting up the situation to provide the young child with Down syndrome with more successful opportunities and then very gradually leading to more difficult tasks. This is one application of errorless learning techniques which, as suggested by Fidler (2005), may result in children with Down syndrome persisting in tasks during which they might otherwise demonstrate escape behavior.

With respect to the attention seeking functions of challenging behavior, our clinical experience suggests that, during the toddler and preschool years, attention motivated behaviors are present and particularly interfering. Consider, for example, getting into a forbidden area within the home (e.g., brick fire place, steep stair case, bay window), a common behavior in toddlers. Many caregivers might instinctively go to the child and remove him/her from the area, but, in doing so, inadvertently deliver attention in the form of verbal feedback (e.g., "No, no honey, that can be dangerous.") as well as physical contact (e.g., once the parent has the child in his/her arms, hugs and kisses are naturally delivered). Because of the positive interaction that ultimately takes place, the child may learn that an effective way to get attention is to move toward the forbidden area. Alternatively, caregivers can systematically respond in a way that is not reinforcing to the child (e.g., silently go to the child without providing eye contact and remove the child from the forbidden area) while at the same time responding in a very reinforcing manner when the child is playing in an acceptable location (e.g., while sitting on the floor with their toys).

Given the early presence of these challenging behaviors, it is essential for professionals to involve caregivers during the development and implementation of interventions so that caregivers can effectively intervene throughout the day and across multiple environments. Professionals should be skilled at imparting intervention techniques to caregivers so they can comfortably implement interventions during ongoing interactions with their young child with Down syndrome.

Conclusion

Interventionists versed in behavioral assessment and intervention strategies are likely to have the tools necessary to address the range (in form and function) of behaviors of children with Down syndrome that have, in the past, precluded them from learning opportunities as well as inclusive placements. Although the interventions have not been considered in relation to the work of Dykens (1995) on the existence of a 'behavioral phenotype', the functional assessment process, in conjunction with interventions adhering to sound behavior analytic principles, appear to be a perfect match for the prevention and amelioration of challenging behavior in individuals with Down syndrome, particularly early in life when a pattern of challenging behavior seems to first emerge.

Correspondence

Dr. Kathleen Feeley • Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education and Literacy, C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, New York 11548.

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a keynote presentation made to the 4th International Conference on Developmental Issues in Down Syndrome, Portsmouth UK, September, 2005. We would like to thank Dr. Joe E. Reichle and Dr. Edward G. Carr for their scholarly critiques of the manuscript.

References