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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Behavioural treatment of improper eating by an institutionalised woman with profound intellectual disability—description of a successful intervention

subject

description

Intensive 11-day behavioural training of an institutionalised woman with profound intellectual disability was used to teach proper eating by reducing her eating errors. The methods used included an increased number of learning opportunities, graduated guidance, the use of social reinforcement, and mild punishment through simple correction of eating errors. The treatment was faded into a maintenance phase. After the intensive training phase, the participant ceased to eat with her fingers from a plate, and her eating changed to a more tidy habit. She was also released from having her hand tied during the meals. The results were maintained during an informal follow-up 4 years later.