Helping people keep using preferred communication to reduce problem behaviors
Official title: Harnessing Communication Preferences to Enhance Its Persistence and Mitigate Relapse of Challenging Behavior
Funded at University of Georgia · NIH-11393756 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project teaches people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to use preferred ways to communicate so they can get their needs met instead of using harmful behaviors like aggression or self-injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Georgia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2012 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,946 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD069377-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393756 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who show aggression, self-injury, property destruction, or other challenging behaviors and who can be taught an alternative way to communicate.
✕Less likely to help
People without communication-related challenging behaviors, those whose behaviors are driven mainly by untreated medical conditions, or those who already have stable effective communication supports may not benefit.
What this research studies
You or your loved one would be taught an alternative communication method (for example, a speech-generating device, signs, or picture cards) to replace challenging behaviors. The team will tailor the approach to each person's communication preferences and practice it across different people and settings. They will also introduce deliberate disruptions (for example, changes in setting or when communication doesn't work) to find ways that help the new communication keep working long-term. Researchers will track who benefits most and which factors predict whether communication persists or problem behaviors return.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help people with IDD keep safe, effective communication working across real-world changes and reduce relapse of harmful behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Functional communication training has strong evidence for reducing challenging behavior, but methods to promote long-term maintenance and prevent relapse across disruptions are less well tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Georgia
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ringdahl, Joel — University of Georgia
- Study coordinator: Ringdahl, Joel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.