The storm project: using video game to promote completion of morning routine for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Morning routines can be challenging for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) [1, 2]. To support their children, parents must use daily monitoring and frequent reinforcement that can be grueling and exhausting with time [3]. Therefore, this pilot study (STORM project) aims the development of a digital solution supporting the completion of morning routine. Precisely, the daily basis use on morning routine, and the acceptance level and perception of the prototype by the children and parents were documented. A descriptive mixed design was used with five families (children aged 6–12 with ASD or ADHD) for a 2-week period. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the French version of The Before School Functioning Questionnaire (BSFQ) [4, 5] was administered to parents before and after the STORM implementation. As results, the majority of parents believed and observed that STORM had many positive effects like it facilitating morning routine, fostering motivation, decreasing supervision and repetition. Children also said it helped they acknowledge their time management. For the BSFQ, all children scores decreased after the use of the STORM. However, the sample is too small to observe significant differences. Still, it showed that using the prototype has the potential to help parents and their children to promote completion of morning routine. In fact, a second phase of this project is underway, and a larger sample, longer study and group comparisons will be used to see if results can be significant.