J Appl Behav Anal 1982 Winter;15(4):565-71
Reducing severe diurnal bruxism in two profoundly retarded females.
Blount RL, Drabman RS, Wilson N, Stewart D
Several diurnal audible teeth grinding (bruxism) was found to affect 21.5% of a profoundly
retarded
population. However, no previous research has treated bruxism in retarded individuals. In
the current
study a multiple baseline across subjects design was used to assess the effectiveness of
contingent "icing,"
brief contingent tactile applications of ice, as a treatment for bruxism. Three 15-minute
treatment periods
and two 5-minute generalization periods were conducted 5 days per week. One resident
displayed a 95%
reduction in the percentage of intervals during which bruxism occurred during treatment
periods and a
67% reduction during generalization periods. The other resident displayed a 94% reduction
in the
percentage of intervals during which bruxism occurred during treatment periods and a 53%
reduction
during generalization periods.