Effects of Social Robot-Based interventions in improving cognition, communication and social skills of children with Motor Movement Disorders (MMD)

Scripts and behavioural mapping: The robot uses pre-programmed scripts involving speech, emotional expressions (e.g. happy, sad, surprised), gestures (e.g. waving, nodding), and turn-taking prompts to facilitate child–robot interaction. Games and tasks: Sessions include storytelling, object naming, emotion recognition, imitation of simple arm and leg movements, role-play dialogues, memory games, and turn-taking social tasks. Adherence monitoring: Attendance at each session will be recorded. The therapist will complete session checklists. Sessions will be video-recorded for fidelity checks. Where applicable, QTRobot usage metrics will be stored. Parental feedback will also be collected on engagement and participation. Frequency and duration: Each child will complete 10 sessions, 7-10 minutes each, delivered thrice per week over 4 weeks. Individualisation: Tasks will be adapted according to the child’s age, motor and cognitive level, and communication ability. Adjustments will be made by the therapist using QTRobot software (e.g. simpler vocabulary, shorter sentences, reduced motor complexity, or increased social challenge). Adaptations are made at the start of the program and updated as needed during sessions based on progress and therapist observation. Crossover and washout period: As this is a crossover trial, participants will first complete the QTRobot intervention, then after a washout period of 3 months, they will switch to the comparator/control condition (or vice versa, depending on randomisation). This period is intended to minimise carryover effects.