ADHD Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about ADHD, including details on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, drugs, treatment, symptoms.

Physical exercise as a reinforcer to promote calmness of an ADHD child.

Azrin NH, Ehle CT, Beaumont AL

Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308, USA. nazrin@nova.edu

Age-appropriate reinforcers have been found to be effective in promoting attentiveness and calmness with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study with a 4-year-old ADHD boy found attentive calmness was substantially increased from a mean of about 3 seconds per trial to the maximum scheduled duration of 60 seconds by using a scheduled period of physical activity as the reinforcer for the attentive-calmness. These results suggest the possible use of this type of reinforcer as an addition or substitution for the usual reinforcers in contingency management with ADHD children.

Published 8 August 2006 in Behav Modif, 30(5): 564-70.
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