مجله علوم روانشناختی (Nov 2023)
Designing a sensory, motor, and cognitive intervention program and assessing its effectiveness on the neuropsychological profile of children with high-functioning autism
Abstract
Background: Children with autism disorder with high performance in the neuropsychological profile have deficits. Meanwhile, a comprehensive program that covers sensory, motor, and cognitive aspects can improve their neuropsychological profile, which has not been designed so far. Aims: The present study aimed to design a sensory, motor, and cognitive intervention program and its effectiveness on the neuropsychological profile of children with high-functioning autism. Methods: This research employed a mixed-methods approach, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative components. The qualitative phase involved the design and validation of the intervention program, incorporating a content analysis of published works and the involvement of 10 experts who were purposefully selected to validate the program. For the quantitative segment, a semi-experimental design of the non-equivalent control group type was employed. The statistical population comprised all children diagnosed with autism, particularly those with high-functioning autism, attending rehabilitation centers in Tehran during the academic year 2022-2023. In the qualitative phase, data were collected from published works, and content analysis was conducted based on relevant keywords. The quantitative phase involved the random selection of 20 subjects through available sampling, with participants allocated equally to control and experimental groups. The research utilized the neuropsychological questionnaire developed by Connors (2004) as the primary instrument for data collection. The experimental group underwent a 12-session, 40-minute intervention program. Results: Sensory, motor, and cognitive intervention programs have demonstrated efficacy in enhancing the neuropsychological profile of children diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, improvements have been observed in the processing speed component (P< 0.01), executive functions (P< 0.05), and memory (P< 0.05). These findings underscore the positive impact of the intervention, suggesting significant enhancements in crucial cognitive domains among children exhibiting high-functioning autism. Conclusion: The intervention designed in this research as a multidimensional intervention that simultaneously includes sensory, motor, and cognitive aspects can improve the neuropsychological profile of children with high-functioning autism disorder.
