Symposium
Chairs: Neelu K. Aujla and Jacob L. Gewirtz
Discussant: Lewis P. Lipsitt
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This study presents a overview of the studies on the development of temporallearning in infants aged between 3 to 23 months. We want to exposed resultsunder different schedules of reinforcement used in infants. The first set ofresults concern the Fixed-interval schedules (FI). The infants weresubmitted to 6 FI (FI 10s, FI 20s, FI 30s, FI 40s, FI 60s and FI 80s). Inthe second set of results, we present those concern Differentialreinforcement of low rate (DRL). The value of the DRL were DRL 10s, DRL 20sand DRL 40s. We show that infants are able to withhold and space theirresponses with accurate estimation. Comparison between species would beinteresting to discuss about language hypothesis. Results show that timediscrimination and regulation seems to appear rapidly in the development ofinfant with environmental constraints.
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In pediatric patients with primary severe congenital disorders oral feeding is often missed or delayed, and then not acquired, in spite of a history of traditional feeding therapies (i.e. Speech and/or Occupational Therapies). Oral feeding is critical to sustaining the life of children for whom artificial feedings have not been effective in weight gain, growth and nourishment as prerequisites to life-saving health and surgery. The purpose of this study was to find a swift and effective treatment for this difficult young patient group. Patients were 6 infants (ages 4 months to 22 months) with severe congenital disorders (William Syndrome; Hyperinsulinism; severe cardiac/pulmonary atresia; severe cardiac/malrotated abdominal organs; esophageal contractions/dysmotility/persistent vomiting) and diagnosed as failure to thrive. Patients were either diagnosed with dysphagia, biologically compromised or conditioned dysphagia, environmentally compromised. All patients received 100% hydration and nutrition via naso-gastric or gastrostomy tube. All patients had previously received at least 6 months or their entire life span of unsuccessful traditional oral feeding therapy. The design was a single case within subject, changing criterion design and multiple baselines across foods, instruments, feeders and environments. The independent variables were either an operant treatment package for patients diagnosed with conditioned dysphagia or a respondent procedure (Lamm, 1998) for patients diagnosed with dysphagia. Dependent variables were frequency/rate of refusals, gag/wretch, vomit, pooling, acceptances, swallows, quantity consumed, variety/texture/viscosity consumed; bolus size per swallow and body weight and height; and parental success providing oral feeding to their child in the home environment. Overall, behavioral oral feeding treatments, coordinated with medical treatment and management, were swift and resulted in significant differences for all 6 patients. Treatment results for all patients were 100% swallows; 100% hydration and nutrition via oral feedings; 100% elimination of naso-gastric and gastrostomy tubes; significant body weight gains. Two and three year results demonstrated parents were successful in maintaining oral feedings (hydration, nutrition and calories) in the home environment with continued weight and height gains for the patients.