The Effects of Motor Fluency on Dressing Tasks and Decreasing Escape Behaviors

Interventions aimed at teaching composite dressing skills assess individuals' current abilities and improve their performance at more independent and fluent levels. The current case study aims to report on the improvements observed when specific component motor skills are targeted for improved performance using frequency building techniques. We extend previous research by including the measure of escape-maintained behaviors during task completion. Similar to those of previous research, the results of this study reveal a significant increase in speed and accuracy across all targeted composite skills and a reduction in escape-maintained behaviors. A direct assessment of composite skills can be used to identify key component skills for intervention.The frequency building of component motor skills can effectively improve accuracy in completing daily living tasks.Addressing component motor skill deficits can reduce escape-maintained problem behaviors during daily living tasks.Mastery of daily living tasks involves completing tasks accurately, fluently, and in the absence of escape behaviors.