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The Effectiveness of Sensory-Motor Integration Exercises on Social Skills and Motor Performance in Children with Autism

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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of sensory-motor integration exercises on social skills and motor performance in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods

This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all children with ASD aged 9–11 years old in Babolsar city in 2022, among whom 30 were selected through convenient sampling from the transplant center of Babolsar, and were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups. Then, the experimental group received the treatment program in 12 sessions. The data collection instrument included Gresham and Elliott’s social skills questionnaire (Gresham FM, Elliott SN (1993) Social skills intervention guide: systematic approaches to social skills training. Spec Serv Sch 8(1):137–158) and Ulrich’s motor performance test (Ulrich B, Ulrich D (1985) The role of balancing ability in performance of fundamental motor skills in 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. Motor Dev: Curr Select Res 1:87–97). Data analysis was conducted using covariance analysis in SPSS21.

Results

The multivariate covariance analysis test showed that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the variable of social skills and motor performance, respectively (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

According to the research findings, it can be concluded that sensory-motor integration exercises can be used as an appropriate intervention in promoting and improving social skills and motor performance of children with autism spectrum. Results of this study can be helpful for therapists and educators who deal with autistic children.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available, as individual privacy could be compromised, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all autism children and their families and Nik Andishan ASD Rehabilitation Center who cooperated with the researcher in this study.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Homayounnia Firouzjah

  2. Department of Educational Psychology, Tabari Institute of Higher Education, Babol, Iran

    Nafiseh Majidi Yaeichi

  3. Department of Psychology, Rahyan Novin Danesh Institute, Mazandaran, Iran

    Roholah Hematinia

Authors
  1. Morteza Homayounnia Firouzjah
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  2. Nafiseh Majidi Yaeichi
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  3. Roholah Hematinia
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Contributions

MHF and NM contributed to the conceptualization, data curation, investigation, methodology, project administration, resources, supervision, validation, visualization, and writing (reviewing and editing) of the study. MHF contributed to the conceptualization and data curation and RH and NM investigation, methodology and writing (reviewing and editing) of the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Morteza Homayounnia Firouzjah.

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We confirm that all experiments were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Authors confirm experiments on humans and the use of human tissue samples confirm that all experiments were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. The studies involving human/animal participants were reviewed and approved by local ethics committee. Also, all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations and the study procedures were explained, and informed consent was obtained from all participants and their parents prior to study initiation.

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Homayounnia Firouzjah, M., Majidi Yaeichi, N. & Hematinia, R. The Effectiveness of Sensory-Motor Integration Exercises on Social Skills and Motor Performance in Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06325-2

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