Upgraded technology for contingent stimulation of mouth wiping by two persons with drooling and profound developmental disabilities.

Two adults with profound intellectual disability drooled constantly. The researchers clipped a pager-sized box to each person's shirt. The box held a tilt switch and a tiny vibration motor.

When the person lifted a napkin to their mouth, the switch closed and the box buzzed for one second. The buzz served as an immediate reward. Sessions took place in the group home living room and at a local café.

Both adults quickly started wiping their mouths more often. Drooling episodes dropped by half. The improvement held even when staff stood back and gave no other prompts.

The device worked without drawing stares; the buzz was quiet and stayed on the wearer.

Lancioni et al. (2006) used the same microswitch-and-buzz idea to curb finger-mouthing in a boy with multiple disabilities. Both studies show that a tiny self-contained stimulator can replace bulky tabletop gear.

Fiene et al. (2015) also used a body-worn buzzer, but their WatchMinder acted as a prompt, not a reward. Their students with autism had to notice the vibration and then self-cue on-task behavior. The 2009 device skips that step; the buzz is the payoff, making it usable for people who cannot self-manage.

Wilkinson et al. (1998) cut disruptive behavior in adults with autism/ID using DRO schedules. Their study reminds us to start with frequent reinforcement, just as the 2009 study gave immediate buzzes every time the napkin touched the mouth.

You can shrink an intervention to pocket size. A $30 tilt switch plus vibration motor can turn any cloth into a self-reinforcing wiping tool. No staff shadowing, no public embarrassment, no program wires across the table. Try it during community outings or meal times when drooling is worst. Begin with continuous buzz for each wipe, then thin to every second or third response once the skill is steady.