Is video-based instruction effective in the rehabilitation of children with autism spectrum disorders?

To review intervention studies on the use of video-based instruction for teaching adaptive behaviours to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Electronic and hand searches were conducted to identify intervention studies that focus on using video-based instruction to teach adaptive behaviours to children with ASD. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were summarized in terms of: (a) participants, (b) setting, (c) model type, (d) target skills, (e) intervention type, (f) design and (g) outcomes.

Forty-four studies encompassing 49 experiments met the inclusion criteria. The studies targeted a range of adaptive behaviours and academic skills. Most studies reported positive results, but the certainty of evidence was not strong for all of the studies due to reliance on pre-experimental designs.

The results from this review support the use of video-based instruction in the rehabilitation of children with ASD.