A RAPID METHOD OF TOILET TRAINING THE INSTITUTIONALIZED RETARDED

N. H. Azrin, R. M. Foxx

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Abstract

Incontinence is a major unsolved problem in the institutional care of the profoundly retarded. A reinforcement and social analysis of incontinence was used to develop a procedure that would rapidly toilet train retardates and motivate them to remain continent during the day in their ward setting. Nine profoundly retarded adults were given intensive training (median of four days per patient), the distinctive features of which were artificially increasing the frequency of urinations, positive reinforcement of correct toileting but a delay for “accidents”, use of new automatic apparatus for signalling elimination, shaping of independent toileting, cleanliness training, and staff reinforcement procedures. Incontinence was reduced immediately by about 90% and eventually decreased to near‐zero. These results indicate the present procedure is an effective, rapid, enduring, and administratively feasible solution to the problem of incontinence of the institutionalized retarded. 1971 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)89-99
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of applied behavior analysis
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1971

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Philosophy
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Applied Psychology

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