Telehealth-Delivered Supports for Daily Living Skills for Autistic Children: a Systematic Review

Abstract

The global prevalence of autism has increased markedly in recent years, resulting in a surge in demand for services. Telehealth interventions offer an alternative to traditional service delivery, however, research is needed to examine the effectiveness of telehealth-delivered interventions for daily living skills (DLS; e.g., sleeping, eating, personal hygiene). This review summarized and appraised 17 studies investigating the effectiveness and social validity of telehealth-delivered behavioral interventions (TDBIs) for DLS for autistic children. Most interventions were parent-implemented with clinician coaching via synchronous video coaching. Web-based resources and workbooks were standard features of interventions. TDBIs resulted in improved DLS for autistic children, however, a limited number of studies and lack of methodological rigor limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Avenues for future research are suggested.