Habit reversal treatment of thumbsucking

About 40% of young children suck their thumbs, an action which is associated with dental problems and for which intra-oral devices have been the most effective treatment. The present study of 30 thumbsucking children evaluated the habit reversal treatment which included competing response training, parental support, and stimulus identification during a single session plus follow-up maintenance by the parent. Habit reversal training reduced thumbsucking by 92% in the first week, 95% in the fourth month, and 89% at the 20-month follow-up. A comparison treatment by a bitter tasting substance produced a reduction of about 35%.