Assessment of the influence of background noise on escape-maintained problem behavior and pain behavior in a child with Willlams syndrome

We examined the influence of background noise on levels of problem behavior and pain behavior under functional analysis conditions for a child with a diagnosis of Williams syndrome and hyperacusis. Background noise was associ ated with increases in escape-maintained problem behavior and increases in pain behavior such as clasping ears and crying. When the child was fitted w ith earplugs, there were substantial reductions in both problem and pain be havior under the background noise condition.