AbstractsPsychology

The purpose of the present study was to identify the treatment components necessary to decrease mealtime duration by introducing each component in a sequential fashion. Participants included 2 boys between the ages of 4 and 5 who took 45 minutes or longer to complete meals. Treatment components included differential reinforcement and verbal prompts. In all phases of treatment, a visual timer was included and the child was told that he would earn access to a preferred item/activity (selected prior to the meal) contingent on finishing within the allotted time. For one participant, mealtime duration decreased during the first treatment phase consisting of differential reinforcement, and for the second participant, mealtime duration decreased with the use of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (independently taken bites) plus verbal prompts.