Latency‐based functional analysis and treatment of elopement

Three boys with autism kept running off during class. The team needed to know why.

They used a latency-based functional analysis. The timer started when the teacher stepped away. It stopped when the child left the room. No one had to chase or carry the child back.

Each boy had four short tests a day. The tests looked at attention, toys, escape, and alone conditions. The whole FA took under 90 minutes per child.

All three boys had a clear reason for elopement. Two wanted adult attention. One wanted to avoid hard tasks.

After the FA, the team gave each boy a quick fix. Attention kids got praise every 30 s if they stayed. Escape kid got brief breaks for finishing small chunks.

Elopement dropped to zero in every case. The fixes worked in class, at recess, and in the hallway.

Retzlaff et al. (2020) showed RBTs can learn to read FA graphs with a short online course. Their study and this one both make FA easier to use in real clinics.

Bhaumik et al. (2009) reviewed brain-wave tools for autism. Those tools need wires and labs. Latency FA only needs a stopwatch.

Vassos et al. (2023) scoping review says we need faster, fairer tests. Latency FA answers that call. It takes less time and needs no special gear.

You can run this FA in one afternoon. No extra staff. No chasing kids across the playground. You get a clear function and a working treatment before the bell rings. Try it the next time a child runs. Start the timer when you step back. Stop it when the child steps out. Ten trials often tell the story.