Functional Analysis of Behavioral Challenges with Adults with Autism

Dracobly, J. D., & Smith, R. G. (2022). Functional Analysis of Behavioral Challenges with Adults with Autism. In J. Leaf, J. Cihon, J. Ferguson, & P. Gerhard (Eds.). Handbook of quality of life for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030- 98507-3

Quality Metric: Invited, Peer-Reviewed Chapter

Adults with autism engage in behaviors that present challenges for themselves and people around them. Problem behaviors can take many forms, including self-injury, aggression, and property destruction. In addition to the risk of injury or damage to property, problem behavior also prevents the development of many desirable behaviors and negatively impact the quality of life for the individual, family members, and others with whom the individual engages. In this chapter, we will describe the function analytic approach to understanding problem behavior. First, we will discuss the evolution of the functional analysis approach, from conceptual to experimental analysis. Next, we will describe a variety of functional assessment approaches, including descriptive and anecdotal assessments. We will then discuss several issues with common functional analysis procedures and describe adaptations to address these concerns, including more efficient functional analyses and analyses of precursors. We will also discuss unique considerations in the analysis of problem behavior of adults with autism, such as subtypes of self-injury and analysis of transitions. Finally, we will describe limitations of the experimental approach to the analysis of problem behavior and offer some recommendations for practitioners.