Functional communication training and delay to reinforcement for the treatment of elopement in a boy with Dravet syndrome

This study used a functional communication training procedure with delay to reinforcement to increase communication and decrease elopement of a 14-year-old boy with Dravet syndrome. The initial functional analysis showed that elopement was maintained by access to tangibles and avoidance of requests. The experimental design used was multiple probes across settings experimental design. The results indicated that the communication level increased, and elopement decreased during sessions conducted in the rehabilitation center and the home environment. Implications for practice are discussed.