OPERANT-CONDITIONING FOR BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT DURING POSTTRAUMATIC AMNESIA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH BRAIN INJURY

Operant conditioning interventions for behavior management have been e ffectively implemented during both acute and long-term rehabilitation of children and adolescents with brain injuries. However, these interv entions are often avoided during posttraumatic amnesia (PTA). Data are presented on the effects of operant conditioning interventions when i mplemented using single-subject experimental designs to reduce selecte d behaviors in six children when still in PTA. The potential benefits of early intervention with operant conditioning for children and adole scents after brain injury are discussed. The validity of measures of e xplicit memory as predictors of responsiveness to operant conditioning is questioned.