A Radical Behaviorist

Autism

Time to throw out the DSM?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on August 12, 2010

It might not be time to throw out the DSM just yet but that day may come. On the other hand, I'd argue that sound diagnoses would be better informed if clinicians used the ADOS or ADI to render a diagnosis. Nonetheless, the day may arrive soon when a more time efficient means of diagnosing ASDs is available.

It might not be time to throw out the DSM just yet but that day may come. On the other hand, I'd argue that sound diagnoses would be better informed if clinicians used the ADOS or ADI to render a diagnosis. Nonetheless, the day may arrive soon when a more time efficient means of diagnosing ASDs is available.

Autism

Another autism tragedy

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on July 22, 2010

Some parents of children with ASDs refer to autism as having robbed them of their children.  It is understandable that a parent wants the best life possible for their child but autism does not mean that life is over.  Life may be very different than imagined but I'd be willing to bet that most parents find that what they expected of having a child is very different than what transpires after the child is born.

Some parents of children with ASDs refer to autism as having robbed them of their children.  It is understandable that a parent wants the best life possible for their child but autism does not mean that life is over.  Life may be very different than imagined but I'd be willing to bet that most parents find that what they expected of having a child is very different than what transpires after the child is born.

Behaviorism

Requests: Verbal or not?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on July 17, 2010

One important form of verbal behavior Skinner discusses is the listener repertoire.  Interaction between two persons requires reciprocity to be "interaction."  Thus, verbal interaction requires that one be a speaker AND a listener to be part of a verbal community.  This is where the person with autism, especially those severely affected, often have problems.  Listener responses are complex.  They require attending to the speaker and some of the context of the speaker's behavior will be conveyed by their facial expression, eye gaze, gestures, and other cues beyond their vocalizations.

One important form of verbal behavior Skinner discusses is the listener repertoire.  Interaction between two persons requires reciprocity to be "interaction."  Thus, verbal interaction requires that one be a speaker AND a listener to be part of a verbal community.  This is where the person with autism, especially those severely affected, often have problems.  Listener responses are complex.  They require attending to the speaker and some of the context of the speaker's behavior will be conveyed by their facial expression, eye gaze, gestures, and other cues beyond their vocalizations.

Behaviorism

Torture or treatment?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on July 1, 2010

I do not intend to be perceived as an advocate of JRC.  I am not.  There have been many troubling stories that have come out in the media such as, a case that I believe is still under investigation, in which a former client delivered information to JRC staff that was stated to have led to the delivery of multiple skin shocks to two current clients.  It is best to allow the proper authorities to decide whether JRC's practices are appropriate.  However, I also want to clearly state that there are situations in which aversive interventions are necessary.  Banning them outright is not the solution.  Regulating them properly for the very few situations in which they are necessary is the more humane alternative.

I do not intend to be perceived as an advocate of JRC.  I am not.  There have been many troubling stories that have come out in the media such as, a case that I believe is still under investigation, in which a former client delivered information to JRC staff that was stated to have led to the delivery of multiple skin shocks to two current clients.  It is best to allow the proper authorities to decide whether JRC's practices are appropriate.  However, I also want to clearly state that there are situations in which aversive interventions are necessary.  Banning them outright is not the solution.  Regulating them properly for the very few situations in which they are necessary is the more humane alternative.

Play

Repetitive Behavior: To Redirect or Not to Redirect?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on June 16, 2010

Sometimes it is better to interrupt preferred behavior to establish other important skills. But when stereotypy is harmless, there should be a time and place for it.

Sometimes it is better to interrupt preferred behavior to establish other important skills. But when stereotypy is harmless, there should be a time and place for it.

Genetics

CNVs: The True Cause of Autism?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on June 10, 2010

 A very important paper was published this week in Nature.  In this paper it was reported that persons with an ASD diagnosis were found to "carry a higher global burden of ...CNVs..."  So what are those CNVs?  They must be some substance carried in vaccines!  Finally we found the environmental toxin that Big Pharma has used to cause the autism epidemic.

 A very important paper was published this week in Nature.  In this paper it was reported that persons with an ASD diagnosis were found to "carry a higher global burden of ...CNVs..."  So what are those CNVs?  They must be some substance carried in vaccines!  Finally we found the environmental toxin that Big Pharma has used to cause the autism epidemic.

Self-Harm

Is restraint always abuse?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on June 3, 2010

 The bill would establish federal standards for the use of restraint and seclusion (R & S).  First, elementary and secondary school personnel from managing a student "by using any mechanical or chemical restraint, physical restraint or escort that restricts breathing, or aversive behavioral intervention that compromises student health and safety".  This is a pretty complicated statement.  No one should argue with banning procedures that restrict breathing or compromise health and safety.

 The bill would establish federal standards for the use of restraint and seclusion (R & S).  First, elementary and secondary school personnel from managing a student "by using any mechanical or chemical restraint, physical restraint or escort that restricts breathing, or aversive behavioral intervention that compromises student health and safety".  This is a pretty complicated statement.  No one should argue with banning procedures that restrict breathing or compromise health and safety.

Diet

Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diets for ASDs are BS

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on May 19, 2010

There was no evidence to suggest that the GFCF diet had a positive effect. Fourteen preschool children with a valid diagnosis of and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were given the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet for 18 weeks. Strict adherence to the GFCF diet was ensured and each child participated in comparable early intensive behavioral intervention throughout the study. Additionally, following at least 4 weeks on the diet each child was exposed to blinded challenges to the diet.  That is, each child was given food containing gluten, casein, both, and a controlled challenge.  Behavioral ratings were collected before the challenge, and at 2 and 24 hours following the challenge.

There was no evidence to suggest that the GFCF diet had a positive effect. Fourteen preschool children with a valid diagnosis of and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were given the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet for 18 weeks. Strict adherence to the GFCF diet was ensured and each child participated in comparable early intensive behavioral intervention throughout the study. Additionally, following at least 4 weeks on the diet each child was exposed to blinded challenges to the diet.  That is, each child was given food containing gluten, casein, both, and a controlled challenge.  Behavioral ratings were collected before the challenge, and at 2 and 24 hours following the challenge.

Autism

Vaccines and Autism: Not a debate, a battle

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on May 5, 2010

Last week, PBS Frontline aired an episode, The Vaccine War, on the vaccine-autism story.  I'm not going to call it a controversy, because it isn't.  Vaccines don't cause autism, the science is clear.  Both the MMR-causes-autism and thimerosal-in-vaccines hypotheses have been explored extensively.  Neither notion holds water.

Last week, PBS Frontline aired an episode, The Vaccine War, on the vaccine-autism story.  I'm not going to call it a controversy, because it isn't.  Vaccines don't cause autism, the science is clear.  Both the MMR-causes-autism and thimerosal-in-vaccines hypotheses have been explored extensively.  Neither notion holds water.

Depression

John Odgren Guilty: Asperger's Not Guilty?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on April 30, 2010

 Odgren was reported to be "obsessed" with the number 19. He killed Alenson on 1/19. Odgren was born on 9/1/90 and the number 19 played a prominent role in Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" and some other of his writings.  Odgren also had a particular interest in Stephen King's novels.  Anyone that knows ASDs knows that repetitive interests drive behavior.  Odgren acted on January 19th in a manner that seems directly related to his these interests.  How can we not assume that his Asperger's Syndrome played a significant role?

 Odgren was reported to be "obsessed" with the number 19. He killed Alenson on 1/19. Odgren was born on 9/1/90 and the number 19 played a prominent role in Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" and some other of his writings.  Odgren also had a particular interest in Stephen King's novels.  Anyone that knows ASDs knows that repetitive interests drive behavior.  Odgren acted on January 19th in a manner that seems directly related to his these interests.  How can we not assume that his Asperger's Syndrome played a significant role?

Bipolar Disorder

Asperger's Syndrome on Trial?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on April 14, 2010

Personal or moral responsibility is a social construct and the fact that behavior is determined has very little bearing on the social judgment of personal responsibility. That said, if an act is strongly influenced by physiological predispositions or tendencies is the person responsible for their act?

Personal or moral responsibility is a social construct and the fact that behavior is determined has very little bearing on the social judgment of personal responsibility. That said, if an act is strongly influenced by physiological predispositions or tendencies is the person responsible for their act?

Autism

FC is BS

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on April 7, 2010

Many well established researchers and clinicians were skeptical of the plausibility of FC from the beginning.  How could a person seemingly communicate at a high level after a few minutes with a facilitator?  Why were they able to communicate so effortlessly and often without even being oriented towards the keyboard at which their faciltators were guiding their fingers towards letters or icons?

Many well established researchers and clinicians were skeptical of the plausibility of FC from the beginning.  How could a person seemingly communicate at a high level after a few minutes with a facilitator?  Why were they able to communicate so effortlessly and often without even being oriented towards the keyboard at which their faciltators were guiding their fingers towards letters or icons?

Education

What are the pre-requisites?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on March 29, 2010

Video modeling typically involves presenting a videotaped sample of models engaged in a specific series of scripted actions and/or vocalizations. The videotaped model is shown 2 or 3 times and then the child is given an opportunity to perform the modeled response. The usefulness of this form of prompting has been well established but not all children learn through video modeling.

Video modeling typically involves presenting a videotaped sample of models engaged in a specific series of scripted actions and/or vocalizations. The videotaped model is shown 2 or 3 times and then the child is given an opportunity to perform the modeled response. The usefulness of this form of prompting has been well established but not all children learn through video modeling.

Autism

The Vaccines Cause Autism Hypotheses Lose in Court

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on March 18, 2010

Special Master Hastings expressed extreme sympathy with the situation the family faced with their daughter's condition. He also stated that the Cedillo family had been mislead by a bevy of charlatans who posed as experts when, in fact, they either had scant qualifications to testify or were basing their testimony on faulty assumptions.

Special Master Hastings expressed extreme sympathy with the situation the family faced with their daughter's condition. He also stated that the Cedillo family had been mislead by a bevy of charlatans who posed as experts when, in fact, they either had scant qualifications to testify or were basing their testimony on faulty assumptions.

Autism

Troubled Waters For Autism’s False Prophets

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on March 10, 2010

 There has been no sound scientific evidence establishing a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.

 There has been no sound scientific evidence establishing a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.

Autism

Is Autism an Imprinting Error?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on March 3, 2010

Imprinting establishes the parent as very important, a potent reinforcer, and a significant cue.

Imprinting establishes the parent as very important, a potent reinforcer, and a significant cue.

Caregiving

Do all children learn with the same teaching procedures?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on February 22, 2010

Having teaching procedures that are generally effective doesn't cut it. If we are interested in doing something other than leaving all children behind equally, we will need to catch those deficits in learning and remediate them.

Having teaching procedures that are generally effective doesn't cut it. If we are interested in doing something other than leaving all children behind equally, we will need to catch those deficits in learning and remediate them.

Autism

Did Thomas Jefferson Like Flapping His Hands?

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on February 15, 2010

As the child with autism ages, they learn to engage in additional forms of stereotypy and, perhaps, the motivation to engage in stereotypy increases.

As the child with autism ages, they learn to engage in additional forms of stereotypy and, perhaps, the motivation to engage in stereotypy increases.

Autism

The Autism-Vaccines Myth: The Impact of the Media

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on February 8, 2010

 Clearly, the media can serve to protect the public interest but more often than not they fail to do so.

 Clearly, the media can serve to protect the public interest but more often than not they fail to do so.

Behaviorism

The Radical in Radical Behaviorism

Bill Ahearn Ph.D., BCBA-D on February 3, 2010

 Psychologists have a long history of ignoring (e.g., Koch, 1964), not understanding (e.g., Rogers, 1964), and/or intentionally misinterpreting (e.g., Chomsky, 1959) behavior analytic interpretations of psychology.

 Psychologists have a long history of ignoring (e.g., Koch, 1964), not understanding (e.g., Rogers, 1964), and/or intentionally misinterpreting (e.g., Chomsky, 1959) behavior analytic interpretations of psychology.