Association for Behavior Analysis International

This applied behavioral study examines and analyses the human behavior of the disability, epilepsy. Both participants used inductive research methods in which they, initially unbeknownst to the other, recorded their inner and outer epilepsy data on the standard celeration chart. This may be the first formal study of its kind, one that used individual self-counts of inner and outer behaviors to monitor epilepsy. Data collection and charting began prior to and continued after diagnoses for both people who shared, defined, and discussed data with one another. The literature review found few studies from the perspective of behavior analysis and none by patients who had observed, counted, and charted their epilepsy behaviors. Each participant here charted her data on daily and monthly standard celeration charts. Each presents her methods, charted data, and results. Self-observations and counting of inner and outer behaviors (private and public events) informed the two people and their physicians about their behaviors and medication effectiveness. These charts on epilepsy show that there are many areas related to the behaviors of this disability that a person can explore within the behavioral and medical realms. Neither has had a developmental disability, and both have graduate degrees in the field.

intermediate graduate students or above basic knowledge of neurological issues working knowledge of the standard celeration chart

The presentation will discuss the data collection method that Sheila started when her epilepsy began after experiencing a traumatic brain injury. She started gathering baseline data of her epilepsy prior to its diagnosis and the benefits that occurred once it was recognized by science. Sheila’s data, displayed on a standard celeration chart, show the impact science, behavior, and data brings to the treatment of epilepsy. Further, as she experienced the benefits of science affecting her epilepsy, she dived into history to learn more about the different types of treatment provided. Sheila’s decision making was guided as she learned from the peer-reviewed research many epileptologists published over the years. The connections Sheila made with history, science, research and her ongoing data collection led her and her medical team through problem solving and decision making to provide the most effective treatments. She continues this practice today as she collaborates with the ongoing treatment to control her epilepsy that developed as a result from the traumatic brain injury.

This study of epilepsy initially used inductive research methods in which one of the participants, Abigail, recorded her data on the standard celeration chart. When this began, it was the first study of its kind, one that used individual self-counts of inner and outer behaviors to monitor epilepsy behaviors. Data collection and charting began decades prior to her diagnosis when she dove into uncharted territory. Abigail charted these data on daily and monthly standard celeration charts with greater medical specificity after diagnosis. She will present her methods, charted data from the 70s, 80s, and four years of current, more specific, medically guided, and thought-out behavioral data. She will also present the current results. Self-observations and counting informed her and her physicians about medication effectiveness and the resultant epileptic behavioral decreases. The presentation includes self-counts, inner and outer behaviors (private and public events). These charts on epilepsy give examples that there are many areas and behaviors that a person can explore through behavior analysis, including the monitoring of one’s medical history and changes.