Using video modeling to teach children with PDD-NOS to respond to facial expressions

Children with autism spectrum disorders often exhibit delays in responding to facial expressions, and few studies have examined teaching responding to subtle facial expressions to this population. We used video modeling to train 3 participants with PDD-NOS (age 5) to respond to eight facial expressions: approval, bored, calming, disapproval, disgusted, impatient, pain, and pleased. Probes consisted of showing an adult performing these facial expressions in a video, and we conducted generalization probes across people and settings. Training was showing a video of an adult modeling a response to each facial expression. In the context of a multiple probe across behaviors design, two participants correctly responded to all facial expressions across people and settings after viewing the video models one or two times. Experimental control was achieved with the other participant though he required more training sessions and was less consistent with responding. Future researchers should evaluate ways to teach and test responding to facial expressions under naturalistic conditions.

► Participants were three 5-year-old children with PDD-NOS.
► We used a multiple probe across behaviors design.
► Video modeling increased responding to eight facial expressions.
► Responding generalized across people and settings.
► Responding maintained for 2 and 6 months with 2 participants.