Effects of Non-Contingent Music in the Emission of Vocal Stereotypies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Vocal stereotypies can be considered a problem behavior because they disrupt the learning environment. Non-contingent music (NCM) access has been used to reduce these responses. This research aimed to verify the effects of an NCM procedure with the differential reinforcement of other responses (MDRO) in reducing vocal stereotypies in two children with ASD using a reversal design. Results indicated an average decrease of 50 to 65% in vocal stereotypies during the intervention sessions for the two participants. The study discusses the maintenance functions of these vocal responses and explores whether music, as a non-contingent auditory reinforcing stimulus, may have altered the motivating operations for the participants' engagement in these stereotyped vocal responses.