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Interventions for Daily Living Skills in Individuals with Intellectual Disability: a 50-Year Systematic Review

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Abstract

Objectives

There has been a recent upward trend in studies evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to increase adaptive behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, fewer studies have focused on individuals with intellectual disability (ID) without comorbid ASD. The aim of the present review was to conduct a systematic review of studies published over the last 50 years that aimed to improve activities of daily living in children and adults with ID.

Methods

The database PsycInfo was searched using specific keywords with a publication date range of 1968 to August 2018. The results of this search yielded 193 total results.

Results

Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 studies were included in the present review. Various aspects of these studies, including target skills, intervention techniques, and outcomes, are summarized. A variety of behavioral principles were found to effectively increase acquisition and use of daily living skills.

Conclusions

Certain trends in the literature, such as a focus on parent or caregiver training and a move toward more technology-based interventions, were identified. Future research on this population has clinical implications for access to behavioral interventions for individual with developmental disabilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Woodland Hill, CA, USA

    Claire O. Burns, Julie Lemon, Doreen Granpeesheh & Dennis R. Dixon

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  1. Claire O. Burns
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  2. Julie Lemon
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Contributions

CB collaborated with the design and completion of the systematic review as well as the writing of the manuscript. JL collaborated with completion of the systematic review and writing of the manuscript. DG collaborated in the writing and editing of the final manuscript. DD conceptualized the research question and collaborated with designing the systematic review, writing, and editing the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Claire O. Burns.

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Burns, C.O., Lemon, J., Granpeesheh, D. et al. Interventions for Daily Living Skills in Individuals with Intellectual Disability: a 50-Year Systematic Review. Adv Neurodev Disord 3, 235–245 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-019-00114-0

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