Study Comparing the Effects of SPM Techniques, Individually vs. Grouped in Children With ASD

Comparative Effects of Individual and Grouped Sensory Perceptual Motor Training on Gross Motor Skills and Quality of Life in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is the most prevalent disorder as it affects attention, awareness, cognitive development, social development, and emotional aspects too. It is one of the comprehensive developmental disorders in the early stage, which is characterized by weak social learning and communication, limited activities, interests, learning, insufficient imaginative and stereotypical thinking or non-functional thinking of movements and verbalities. A lack of sensory perception leads to a leading autistic child's sensitivity to sensory stimuli or weak sensitivity and the child is not aware of the surrounding environment.

The current study will be randomized control trial; data will be collected from Lahore Garrison Institute of Special Education. This study will be conducted with 32 participants equally divided into two groups. Inclusion criteria will be Children who diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (mild & moderate) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-5), Have an IQ 70 according to Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales and be able to understand and follow instructions, Children whose age between 4 to 12 and All participants had to be able to sit and walk without support according to GMFCS. Exclusion criteria for the study include Children who will associate with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder signs, Upper limb musculoskeletal injuries, Visual or auditory impairments, Children who had received sensory integration therapy for > 3 months within the past 6 months and Children with speech delay, hearing impairment, or intellectual disability. SPM training will be given each child individually in the first group. In the second group techniques will be apply in a group therapy. The SPM training programme will apply for 10 months. Outcomes, including the Test of Movement Battery for Children, Quality of life scale will be use. Data analysis will be performed using SPSS version 23.00

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children who diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (mild & moderate) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-5)
• Have an IQ 70 according to Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
• Children whose age between 4 to 12
• All participants had to be able to sit and walk without support

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children who will associate with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder signs
• Upper limb musculoskeletal injuries
• Visual or auditory impairments
• Children who had received sensory integration therapy for > 3 months within the past 6 months
• Children with speech delay, hearing impairment, or intellectual disability