Enhancing Daily Living Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Video Modeling: a Case Report

Introduction: children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently show difficulties in developing daily living skills. Video modeling (VM) and video self modeling (VSM) are successful strategies for improving skills in ASD. Aims: (i) develop the daily living skill “hand washing” in a child with ASD and moderate mental retardation using a VM training; (ii) investigate the efficacy of a classic VM and an experimental VSM in the target skill. Methods and procedure: the participant received a classic VM (model was a peer who had well acquired the target skill) and an experimental VSM (it was the VM video with the difference that on the face of the model was pasted a picture of the face of the participant). Results and discussion: VM lead to a rapid acquisition in the target skill, but it did not stabilized during the study. Results with VSM were lower, but follow-up phase revealed some acquisitions. VM early capitalized child’s cognitive resources. Because of his poor cognitive level the child difficultly processed video information. Conclusions: the child showed some improvements in the skill trained, therefore VM could be effective in teaching skills to children with ASD. VM and its variations should be tailor made on the cognitive profile of the individuals.