Sensory extinction
An extinction procedure for automatically reinforced behavior in which the sensory consequence the behavior produces is blocked, reduced or masked.
When a behavior is maintained by its own sensory consequences, an adult cannot simply stop delivering the reinforcer, because the behavior produces it directly. Sensory extinction changes the environment or uses equipment so the behavior no longer produces that sensation. A classic example is placing carpet on a table so that spinning plates no longer makes the sound that maintained the spinning. Other examples include padding a surface that a client taps for the sound, or gloves that dull the feel of rubbing a surface.
Sensory extinction depends on knowing exactly which sensory consequence maintains the behavior, which comes from the supervisor's assessment. If the wrong consequence is masked, the behavior will continue. Like other forms of extinction, it can lead to an extinction burst or a shift to a different behavior that produces similar stimulation, so it is usually paired with access to appropriate activities that provide similar sensations.
Some protective equipment and response blocking can restrict movement and may be considered restrictive. These are used only as written in the behavior plan and after the supervisor has confirmed competence. Equipment must be used and checked as instructed, and any skin irritation, injury or distress should be reported.
The RBT applies the procedure consistently, records the behavior, and reports when the client finds a new way to get the same sensation.
Example and non-example
| Example | A client repeatedly taps a metal shelf, and the supervisor's assessment indicates the sound maintains it. The plan adds a foam cover to the shelf, so tapping makes no sound, and the RBT gives the client a drum during free time. |
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| Non-example | A client rocks in their chair and the RBT tells them, "Sit still, please," each time. Talking to the client does nothing to the sensation of rocking, so this is not sensory extinction. |
Don't confuse it with
| Sensory function | A sensory function is what maintains the behavior, while sensory extinction is a procedure that blocks that consequence. |
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| Attention extinction | Attention extinction withholds social attention, while sensory extinction removes or masks a consequence the behavior itself produces. |
Test yourself
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Question 1A client flips the light switch on and off for long periods, and the supervisor's assessment suggests the flashing light maintains the behavior. During sessions, the switch is disconnected so flipping it no longer changes the light. What procedure is this?
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A: Sensory extinction. When a behavior is maintained by its own sensory consequence (automatic reinforcement), sensory extinction removes or masks that consequence. Flipping the switch still happens but no longer produces the light change.
- B: Noncontingent reinforcement delivers a reinforcer on a time schedule; here the behavior's own sensory result is removed.
- C: Response cost removes a reinforcer the client already has, such as tokens, after the behavior.
- D: Escape extinction is for behavior maintained by getting away from something; this behavior is maintained by its visual result.
Task D.4 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 2A client's hand-flapping appears to be maintained by automatic reinforcement. Why is planned ignoring unlikely to work as extinction for this behavior?
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B: Ignoring does not remove the sensory result that maintains it. Automatically reinforced behavior produces its own reinforcer, so it continues whether or not anyone pays attention. Withholding attention does not withhold the reinforcer.
- A: Whether a client speaks does not decide whether ignoring can be used.
- C: The assessment points to automatic reinforcement, not escape.
- D: Automatically maintained behavior can be addressed with procedures such as sensory extinction and reinforcement.
Task D.4 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 3Which of these is an example of sensory extinction?
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A: Covering a tabletop with a mat a client taps on for the sound. Sensory extinction removes or masks the sensory result that maintains a behavior. If tapping no longer makes the sound, the sound can no longer reinforce it.
- B: That withholds attention, so it is attention extinction.
- C: That withholds escape, so it is escape extinction.
- D: Taking a token is response cost, a punishment procedure.
Task D.4 · 40-hour curriculum section E
Answer every question to see your score.
On the RBT exam
This term belongs to task D.4 Extinction in content area D, Behavior Reduction, which is 14 of the 75 scored questions.