Using a Functional Analysis Followed by Differential Reinforcement and Extinction to Reduce Challenging Behaviors in Children With Smith-Magenis Syndrome.

Hodnett et al. (2018) worked with two children who have Smith-Magenis Syndrome. Both kids showed hard hitting, kicking, and screaming.

First the team ran a functional analysis. They wanted to know why the behavior happened. Then they used differential reinforcement plus extinction. The child got a break or a toy for good communication. The problem behavior no longer worked.

The FA showed clear reasons for each child. One wanted escape from tasks. The other wanted adult attention.

After treatment, both kids' problem behavior dropped fast. They used new words or signs instead. Parents and teachers saw the change.

Foti et al. (2015) did the same steps with nine children who have fragile X. They also saw big drops in problem behavior. Both studies prove the FA-then-treatment path works for rare genetic syndromes.

Corrigan et al. (1998) first showed FCT plus extinction cuts destructive acts. Hodnett et al. (2018) copied that plan with SMS kids. The old recipe still works twenty years later.

Nevill et al. (2019) moved the same steps into family homes. Their results lasted six weeks. This hints the SMS plan could travel from clinic to home too.

If you serve a child with SMS, always run an FA first. Do not guess the function. Once you know the pay-off, pick DR plus extinction. Teach a simple request that gives the same pay-off. Track the data each day. You should see problem behavior fall and communication rise within a week or two.