Behavior Therapy for Stereotypic Movement Disorder in Typically Developing Children: A Clinical Case Series

• Three typically developing children received behavior therapy for stereotypy
• Core treatment was HRT, function-based intervention, and behavioral rewards
• Significant decreases in stereotypy severity were observed among the three clients

Stereotypic movement disorder (SMD) is characterized by repetitive, rhythmic, episodic movement and is associated with distress and functional impairment. A range of behavioral strategies have been implemented for the treatment of stereotypies, but research on the effectiveness of behavior therapy in typically developing children is limited. The following case series describes the implementation of behavior therapy for 3 typically developing children (ages 12 to 14) with SMD. Results showed significant reductions in the frequency and intensity of the stereotypies. Future refinement and testing of a behavior therapy protocol is recommended.