Abstract

Autistic children often experience difficulty with emotional regulation, resulting in problem behaviors. This study investigates whether wearable vibrating devices, delivering bilateral stimulation (BLS), effectively reduce tantrum behaviors (i.e., aggression, property destruction, and verbal outbursts) in autistic children when used within an applied behavior analysis (ABA) setting. Three autistic children ages 7-10 participated in an A-B-A-B single-case experimental design conducted at a private autism clinic. Each child wore wireless BLS devices during their regular therapy sessions. A functional relation between the independent and dependent variable was observed. The overall combined average Tau-U score across all three participants was -0.41 with the 90% confidence interval being -0.545 to -0.278. Social validity questionnaires showed that the devices were well tolerated and considered generally appropriate by both the participants and supporting registered behavior technicians (RBTs). Findings suggest that wearable BLS devices offer a practical, nonverbal, and low-effort tool for reducing externalizing behaviors in autistic children. Unlike other emotion regulation strategies requiring sustained attention or verbal processing, BLS may be especially suitable for individuals with communication and sensory challenges. These results support further investigation into sensory-based interventions in ABA and highlight the potential for interdisciplinary models into autism treatment frameworks.

Degree

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Rights

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