None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
LEGO® therapy is a proven intervention that uses a child’s natural interest to motivate learning and to collaboratively build a LEGO® set with others through the social division of labour.. It has been found to be effective in increasing social skills and reducing maladaptive behaviours in younger children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, there is limited information about the effectiveness of LEGO® therapy for children over the age of 13 years. LEGO® robotics therapy – which uses the principles of LEGO® therapy applied to LEGO® robotics – may be an age-appropriate intervention to reduce anxiety and increase social skills in adolescents with ASD. The primary aim of this Phase 1 clinical trial is to investigate whether LEGO® robotics therapy can reduce anxiety and increase social skills and school engagement in adolescents aged 13-16 years with ASD. The second aim is to measure the engagement, utility, and acceptance of LEGO® robotics with this cohort, while the third aim is to formally gather the views and perceptions of the intervention from all stakeholders (adolescents with ASD, parents, teachers, and LEGO® therapist/facilitators). The fourth and final aim is to develop a training manual for school staff and parents to support adolescents with ASD. The manual would support the reach, generalisation and longevity of the LEGO® robotics therapy program across educational, clinical, home and community settings. The findings of this study will inform the development of a larger randomised controlled trial.
Interventions
LEGO robotics therapy intervention will involve participants working in groups of three across eight one-hour sessions (once per week over eight weeks). The groups will work with a facilitator to build LEGO Robotics (Mindstorms EV3) set using LEGO therapy principles. Facilitators will be staff of Autism SA with extensive experience in working with young people with autism with professional training in special education or psychology. They will be formally trained in LEGO therapy principles. Us
LEGO robotics therapy intervention will involve participants working in groups of three across eight one-hour sessions (once per week over eight weeks). The groups will work with a facilitator to build LEGO Robotics (Mindstorms EV3) set using LEGO therapy principles. Facilitators will be staff of Autism SA with extensive experience in working with young people with autism with professional training in special education or psychology. They will be formally trained in LEGO therapy principles. Using LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kits, participants will take turns to work in each of three distinct roles (one role per session). Using the LEGO instructions, the 'engineer' will describe the bricks needed to the 'supplier' who selects and supplies the pieces to the 'builder' who puts the pieces together. The group will work with a trained facilitator who will support communication, problem solving, negotiating, turn taking and cooperating. A session attendance checklist will be maintained. Once participants have consented, allocation to intervention and wait-list group will be undertaken following discussion with school staff. This is to ensure that attending LEGO groups will not affect the participants' school lessons.
Sponsors
Flinders University
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
13 Years to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Aged between 13- 16 years, eligible to recieved services from Autism SA, enrolled in a participating school
Exclusion criteria
Do not provide assent or do not received written informed consent from parent / guardian
Outcome results
None listed