| Abstract: | The present study assessed the effect of teaching communicative gestures on the occurrence of self-injurious behavior and other behavior disorders with 14 individuals who are severely/ profoundly mentally retarded. Results show a statistically significant decrease of about 40% in self-injurious behavior as a collateral effect of an increased use of communicative gestures. Apart from a decrease in the occurrence of destructive behaviors, no other effects on other behavior disorders were found. Results are discussed in terms of the possible use of communicative gestures as a therapeutic supplement to standard procedures for decreasing self-injurious behavior with individuals who are nonverbal and mentally retarded. |
