An economical, humane, and effective method for short—term suppression of hand mouthing

Self‐injurious behavior (SIB) is a serious health hazard, especially among individuals with severe and profound mental retardation, sometimes leading to drastic therapeutic measures. Environments in which there are long periods with minimal opportunities for constructive activity are conducive to the development of SIB, but even highly motivated, hard‐working caregivers sometimes have difficulty providing sufficient personal interactions to prevent it. In this case study, one person's self‐injurious hand mouthing was significantly reduced by analyzing her toy play and consistently providing her with preferred toys. The results showed that careful and consistent attention to assuring that preferred materials are available for self‐entertainment may be an effective and efficient method for managing some cases of SIB during times when other activities and treatments are unavailable.