Visual Activity Schedules and Incentive Charts for Children With Processing Difficulties: Improving Executive Functioning
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2021
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Abstract
The purpose of this three-week long study was to evaluate the effectiveness that Visual Activity Schedules (VAS) and Incentive Charts (IC) have in improving Executive Functioning (EF) in children with processing delays for independent handwashing hygiene. Participants consisted of six children, four males and two females, aged 4 to 6 years old who previously received Speech Therapy services at a small therapy placement agency in New York. The study focused on deficits in processing delays concentrating on handwashing sequences through a child-friendly VAS with matching Velcro pictures. The VAS was easily manipulated by participants based on cognitive and fine motor abilities. VAS has been demonstrated to increase on-schedule and on-task behaviors with modeling, cueing, and visual stimuli. Baseline study indicated across participants that independent handwashing for personal hygiene had its limitations due to multiple delays and disorders each child presented with plus multiple distractions (i.e., playing with water). Results from all six children yielded outcomes that support the success of a Visual Schedule to aid in sequencing and completing actions independently. Limitations to the current study and recommendations for future studies are discussed.
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Visual activity schedule, Incentive chart, Executive functioning, Processing delays, Personal hygiene