| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the following study is to decrease inappropriate behaviors in students
with Down syndrome through the implementation of breathing exercises in their daily schedule.
Down syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation. Individuals with Down
syndrome usually display a higher amount of inappropriate behaviors than their typically
developing peers. These inappropriate behaviors can be a safety concern and a disruption to the
learning environment. The four breathing exercises that will be used in this study come from Dr.
Bailey's book, Conscious Discipline. One reason breathing exercises are effective is because
they bring more oxygen to the lungs and the brain, therefore creating more clarity, calmness, and
energy for the students. Research has supported that breathing is a simple way to self-regulate
one's emotions and avoid spontaneous fight or flight. Several past studies affirm breathing and
other relaxation techniques have been successful at lowering stress and anxiety in addition to
decreasing inappropriate behaviors within multiple settings, participants, and cognitive levels.
However, there has been limited research on the effects of using breathing exercises on
individuals with Down syndrome. Teaching breathing techniques, such as the ones
recommended by Conscious Discipline, may be a useful tool for individuals with Down
syndrome in order to help them achieve greater self-control and therefore decrease the amount of
inappropriate behaviors. This research project used single-subject ABAB design to find the
effects of breathing exercises decreasing targeted inappropriate behavior on three students with
Down syndrome. | en_US |
