Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual Reality, Occupational Therapy, Cognitive Performance, Occupational Performance, Motivation
Brief summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Children with ASD may experience difficulties in attention, working memory, planning, cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, and executive functions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of virtual reality-supported cognitive-focused occupational therapy on cognitive performance, occupational performance, and motivation in children with ASD. A total of 32 children with ASD aged 6-12 years will be assigned to either the intervention group (n=16) or the control group (n=16). The intervention group will receive virtual reality-supported cognitive-focused occupational therapy for 40 minutes once a week for 8 weeks, while the control group will receive structured occupational therapy sessions with the same frequency and duration. Cognitive performance, occupational performance, and motivation will be assessed using the Dynamic Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (DLOTCA), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the Pediatric Motivation Scale (PMS), respectively.
Interventions
OTHERVirtual Reality-Supported Cognitive-Focused Occupational Therapy
Structured occupational therapy sessions incorporating virtual reality-supported cognitive-focused activities will be administered once a week for 8 weeks. The intervention will target cognitive skills, occupational performance, and motivation in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
OTHERStructured Occupational Therapy
Participants will receive structured occupational therapy sessions for 40 minutes once a week for 8 weeks.
Sponsors
Biruni University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Randomized controlled study
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Aged between 6 and 12 years. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 1 according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Able to stand and ambulate independently. Able to follow basic instructions and interact within a virtual environment. Voluntary participation of the child and/or legal guardian in the study and provision of written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
History of epilepsy. Presence of vestibular system disorders or complaints of vertigo. Presence of severe cardiovascular disorders. Inability to use the virtual reality application due to severe visual impairment. Diagnosis of a severe neurological or psychiatric disorder other than Autism Spectrum Disorder. Having a condition that may require medical treatment or a different intervention during the study period. Inability to understand the virtual reality experience or appropriately follow instructions. Demonstrating difficulties in cooperation at a level that prevents the implementation of the SmartPose system.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognition Assessment Test | 8 week | The DLOTCA (Dynamic Loewenstein Cognition Assessment test) will be used. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) | Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks | The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) will be used to assess occupational performance and satisfaction with performance. |
| Pediatric Motivation Scale (PMS) | Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks | The Pediatric Motivation Scale (PMS) will be used to assess motivation. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed