Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Human–Robot Interaction in Autism Treatment: A Case Study on Three Pairs of Autistic Children as Twins, Siblings, and Classmates

  • Published:
International Journal of Social Robotics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, three pairs of children with autism include a pair of twins, two siblings, and two classmates were enrolled in a 12-session robot-assisted group-games program. As many environmental factors were for the most part the same for the siblings as well as genetic factors for the twins, we were able to observe/compare the effect of the designed games on the participants individually and in paired-groups. The results indicated that all participants’ autism severity decreased after the course of the program. Improvement in social skills, social participation/avoidance, and detrimental social behaviors were also observed in the participants with high-functioning autism with close to being large Cohen’s d effect sizes. Moreover, based on the video coders’ observations the joint attention, gaze scores toward the robot, and verbal communications of the paired-groups increased significantly over the treatment time (\(p<0.05\)). However, in general, the designed program effect on the subjects’ behavior seems to be different for participants from different points on the autism spectrum; and even the high-functioning subjects showed different potential behavioral progress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Autism Spectrum Disorders.

  2. Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based Model.

  3. Applied Behavioral Analysis.

  4. Communication and Symbolic Behavioral Scales.

  5. Early Social Communication Scales; a comprehensive clinical measure of joint attention behaviors, behavioral requests, and social interaction behaviors of children.

References

  1. Pouretemad H (2011) Diagnosis and treatment of joint attention in autistic children. Arjmand Book, Tehran (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Scassellati B, Admoni H, Mataric M (2012) Robots for use in autism research. Ann Rev Biomed Eng 14:275–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Taheri AR, Alemi M, Meghdari A, PourEtemad HR, Basiri NM (2014) Social robots as assistants for autism therapy in Iran: research in progress. In: 2014 second RSI/ISM international conference robotics and mechatronics (ICRoM). IEEE, pp 760–766

  4. Robins B, Dickerson P, Stribling P, Dautenhahn K (2004) Robot-mediated joint attention in children with autism: a case study in robot-human interaction. Interact Stud 5(2):161–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kozima H, Nakagawa C, Yasuda Y (2005) Interactive robots for communication-care: a case-study in autism therapy. IEEE international workshop on robot and human interactive communication, ROMAN 2005:341–346

    Google Scholar 

  6. Feil-Seifer D, Matarić MJ (2009) Toward socially assistive robotics for augmenting interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. In: Experimental robotics: The eleventh international symposium. Springer, Berlin. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-00196-3_24

  7. Taheri A, Meghdari A, Alemi M, Pouretemad H, Poorgoldooz P, Roohbakhsh M (2016) Social robots and teaching music to autistic children: myth or reality?. In: International conference on social robotics. Springer, pp 541–550

  8. Taheri A, Alemi M, Meghdari A, Pouretemad H, Basiri NM, Poorgoldooz P (2015) Impact of humanoid social robots on treatment of a pair of Iranian autistic twins. In: International conference on social robotics. Springer, pp 623–632

  9. Khosla R, Nguyen K, Chu MT (2015) Socially assistive robot enabled home-based care for supporting people with autism. In: PACIS, p 12

  10. Liu C, Conn K, Sarkar N, Stone W (2008) Online affect detection and robot behavior adaptation for intervention of children with autism. IEEE Trans Robot 24(4):883–896

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Duquette A, Michaud F, Mercier H (2008) Exploring the use of a mobile robot as an imitation agent with children with low-functioning autism. Auton Robots 24(2):147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Mavadati SM, Feng H, Gutierrez A, Mahoor MH (2014) Comparing the gaze responses of children with autism and typically developed individuals in human–robot interaction. In: 2014 14th IEEE-RAS international conference on humanoid robots (humanoids), pp 1128–1133

  13. Kajopoulos J, Wong AHY, Yuen AWC, Dung TA, Kee TY, Wykowska A (2015) Robot-assisted training of joint attention skills in children diagnosed with autism. International conference on social robotics. France. Springer, Paris, pp 296–305

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Boccanfuso L, Barney E, Foster C, Ahn YA, Chawarska K, Scassellati B, Shic F (2016) Emotional robot to examine different play patterns and affective responses of children with and without ASD. In: 2016 11th ACM/IEEE international conference on human–robot interaction (HRI). IEEE, pp 19–26

  15. Pioggia G, Ferro M, Sica ML, Dalle Mura G, Casalini S, De Rossi D, Muratori F (2006) Imitation and learning of the emotional behaviour: towards an android-based treatment for people with autism. In: Proceedings of sixth international conference on epigenetic robotics: modeling cognitive development in robotic systems

  16. Robins B, Dautenhahn K, Te Boekhorst R, Billard A (2005) Robotic assistants in therapy and education of children with autism: can a small humanoid robot help encourage social interaction skills? Univers Access Inf Soc 4(2):105–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Werry I, Dautenhahn K, Ogden B, Harwin W (2001) Can social interaction skills be taught by a social agent? The role of a robotic mediator in autism therapy. In: Proceedings of the 4th international conference on cognitive technology: instruments of mind, August 06–09, 2001, pp 57–74. doi:10.1007/3-540-44617-6_6

  18. Salvador M, Silver S, Mahoor M (2015) An emotion recognition comparative study of autistic and typically developing children using the Zeno robot. In: IEEE on international conference on robotics and automation, Seattle, USA

  19. Burack JA, Volkmar FR (1992) Development of low-and high-functioning autistic children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 33(3):607–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kean JM (1975) The development of social skills in autistic twins. N Z Med J 81(534):204–207

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mazefsky CA, Goin-Kochel RP et al (2008) Genetic and environmental influences on symptom domains in twins and siblings with autism. Res Autism Spectr Disord 2(2):320–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ozonoff S, Young GS, Carter A, Messinger D, Yirmiya N et al (2011) Recurrence risk for autism spectrum disorders: a Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study. Pediatrics 128(3):e488–e495

    Google Scholar 

  23. Huskens B, Palmen A, Van der Werff M, Lourens T, Barakova E (2015) Improving collaborative play between children with autism spectrum disorders and their siblings: the effectiveness of a robot-mediated intervention based on Lego therapy. J Autism Dev Disord 45(11):3746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wong CCY, Meaburn EL, Ronald A, Price TS, Jeffries AR et al (2014) Methylomic analysis of monozygotic twins discordant for autism spectrum disorder and related behavioral traits. Mol Psychiatry 19(4):495–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Mitchell SR, Reiss AL, Tatusko DH, Ikuta I, Kazmerski DB, Botti JAC, Kates WR (2009) Neuroanatomic alterations and social and communication deficits in monozygotic twins discordant for autism disorder. Am J Psychiatry 166(8):917–925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ho A, Todd RD, Constantino JN (2005) Brief report: autistic traits in twins vs. non-twins–a preliminary study. J Autism Dev Disord 35(1):129–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Constantino JN, Todd RD (2003) Autistic traits in the general population: a twin study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60(5):524–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Folstein S, Rutter M (1977) Infantile autism: a genetic study of 21 twin pairs. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 18(4):297–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Steffenburg S, Gillberg C, Hellgren L, Andersson L, Gillberg IC, Jakobsson G, Bohman M (1989) A twin study of autism in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 30(3):405–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Hilton JC, Seal BC (2007) Brief report: comparative ABA and DIR trials in twin brothers with autism. J Autism Dev Disord 37(6):1197–1201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Kim S, Clarke E (2015) Case study: an iPad-based intervention on turn-taking behaviors in preschoolers with autism. Behav Dev Bull 20(2):253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. https://www.aldebaran.com/en (March 2016)

  33. http://www.hansonrobotics.com/ (March 2016)

  34. Gilliam JE (1995) Gilliam autism rating scale. ProEd, Austin, TX

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ashburner J, Ziviani J, Rodger S (2008) Sensory processing and classroom emotional, behavioral, and educational outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder. Am J Occup Therapy 62(5):564–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ahmadi SJ, Safari T, Hemmatian M, Khalili Z (2012) Exploring the criterion of diagnosing autism (GARS). J Res Cognit Behav Sci 1(1):87–104 (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Bellini S, Peters JK (2008) Social skills training for youth with autism spectrum disorders. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 17(4):857–873

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, 2nd edn. Lawrence Earlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  39. Riff D, Lacy S, Fico F (2014) Analyzing media messages: using quantitative content analysis in research. Routledge, Abingdon

    Google Scholar 

  40. Rimland B, Edelson S (2000) Autism treatment evaluation checklist: statistical analyses. Autism Research Institute, California

    Google Scholar 

  41. Minitab 17 Statistical Software [Computer software] (2010) Minitab, Inc., State College, PA. www.minitab.com

  42. Kozima H, Nakagawa C, Yasuda Y (2007) Children-robot interaction: a pilot study in autism therapy. Prog Brain Res 164:385–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Warren ZE, Zheng Z, Swanson AR, Bekele E, Zhang L, Crittendon JA, Sarkar N (2015) Can robotic interaction improve joint attention skills? J Autism Dev Disord 45(11):3726–3734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Whalen C, Schreibman L (2003) Joint attention training for children with autism using behavior modification procedures. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 44(3):456–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Ingersoll B, Gergans S (2007) The effect of a parent-implemented imitation intervention on spontaneous imitation skills in young children with autism. Res Dev Disabil 28(2):163–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Ingersoll B, Schreibman L (2006) Teaching reciprocal imitation skills to young children with autism using a naturalistic behavioral approach: effects on language, pretend play, and joint attention. J Autism Dev Disord 36(4):487–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Tapus A, Peca A, Aly A, Pop C, Jisa L, Pintea S, David DO (2012) Children with autism social engagement in interaction with Nao, an imitative robot–a series of single case experiments. Interact Stud 13(3):315–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Ingersoll B (2008) The social role of imitation in autism: implications for the treatment of imitation deficits. Infants Young Child 21(2):107–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Ingersoll B, Walton K, Carlsen D, Hamlin T (2013) Social intervention for adolescents with autism and significant intellectual disability: initial efficacy of reciprocal imitation training. Am J Intellect Dev Disabil 118(4):247–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Carpenter M, Pennington BF, Rogers SJ (2002) Interrelations among social-cognitive skills in young children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord 32(2):91–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Uzgiris IC (1999) Imitation as activity: its developmental aspects. In: Nadel J, Butterworth G (eds) Imitation in infancy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 186–206

    Google Scholar 

  52. Mundy P, Delgado C, Block J, Venezia M, Hogan A, Seibert J (2003) Early social communication scales (ESCS). University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

    Google Scholar 

  53. Kazdin AE (2011) Single-case research designs: methods for clinical and applied settings. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  54. Baron-Cohen S (2001) Theory of mind in normal development and autism. Prisme 34(1):74–183

    Google Scholar 

  55. Graaf M (2016) An ethical evaluation of human-robot relationships. Int J Soc Robot 8(4):589–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Alemi M, Ghanbarzadeh A, Meghdari A, Moghadam LJ (2016) Clinical application of a humanoid robot in pediatric cancer interventions. Int J Soc Robot 8(5):743–759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Alemi M, Meghdari A, Ghazisaedy M (2015) The impact of social robotics on L2 learners’ anxiety and attitude in English vocabulary acquisition. Int J Soc Robot 7(04):523–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Our profound gratitude goes to the “Center for the Treatment of Autistic Disorders (CTAD)” and its psychologists for their contributions to the clinical trials with the children with autism. This research was funded by the “Cognitive Sciences and Technology Council” (CSTC) of Iran (http://www.cogc.ir/) (Grant No. 103). We also appreciate the Iranian National Science Foundation (INSF) for their complementary support of the Social & Cognitive Robotics Laboratory (http://en.insf.org/).

Funding   This study was funded by the “Cognitive Sciences and Technology Council” (CSTC) of Iran.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social & Cognitive Robotics Laboratory, Center of Excellence in Design, Robotics and Automation (CEDRA), Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Alireza Taheri, Ali Meghdari & Minoo Alemi

  2. Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, West Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

    Minoo Alemi

  3. Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences (ICBS), Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    Hamidreza Pouretemad

  4. Center for the Treatment of Autistic Disorders (CTAD), Tehran, Iran

    Alireza Taheri & Hamidreza Pouretemad

Authors
  1. Alireza Taheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Meghdari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Minoo Alemi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hamidreza Pouretemad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Meghdari.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Author Ali Meghdari has received research grants from the “Cognitive Sciences and Technology Council” (CSTC) of Iran. The authors Alireza Taheri, Minoo Alemi, and Hamidreza Pouretemad declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval for the protocol of this study was provided by Iran University of Medical Sciences (#IR.IUMS.REC.1395.95301469), and the certification for ABA and robot-assisted treatment with children with autism was received from the Center for the Treatment of Autistic Disorders (CTAD), Iran.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Taheri, A., Meghdari, A., Alemi, M. et al. Human–Robot Interaction in Autism Treatment: A Case Study on Three Pairs of Autistic Children as Twins, Siblings, and Classmates. Int J of Soc Robotics 10, 93–113 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-017-0433-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-017-0433-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation