The effect of Son-Rise and Floor-Time programs on social interaction skills and stereotyped behaviors of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: a clinical trial / O efeito dos programas Son-Rise e Floor-Time nas habilidades de interação social e comportamentos estereotipados de crianças com Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo: um ensaio clínico

Abstract Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which difficulty in social interaction skills and performing limited and stereotyped activities are among its symptoms. This study aims to determine the effect of Son-Rise and Floor Time programs on social interaction skills and stereotyped behaviors in children with ASD. The present study was a Clinical Trial. The participant were 60 children with ASD who were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to three groups (Son-Rise intervention, Floor-Time intervention, and control group with routine occupational therapy interventions). For data gathering, Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, and Autism Social Skills Profile were used, respectively. For data analysis, repeated measures and analysis of variance were used (two-way between and within- subjects). The results of data analysis showed that Son-Rise and Floor Time programs had a positive effect on social interaction skills of children with ASD, and reduced stereotyped behaviors of these children; Also, there is a significant difference between the effectiveness of Son-Rise and Floor-Time programs on social interaction skills and stereotyped behavior in the post-test, which is more effective in the Floor Time compared to Son-Rise program.

Resumo O Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) é um transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento que tem entre seus sintomas a dificuldade nas habilidades de interação social e a realização de atividades limitadas e estereotipadas. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o efeito dos programas Son-Rise e Floor Time nas habilidades de interação social e comportamentos estereotipados em crianças com TEA. O presente estudo foi um Ensaio Clínico. Os participantes foram 60 crianças com TEA que foram selecionadas pelo método de amostragem de conveniência e distribuídas aleatoriamente em três grupos (intervenção Son-Rise, intervenção Floor-Time e grupo controle com intervenções de terapia ocupacional de rotina). Para a coleta de dados, foram utilizados o Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, a Gilliam Autism Rating Scale e o Autism Social Skills Profile, respectivamente. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizada a análise de variância de medidas repetidas (bidirecional entre e dentro dos sujeitos). Os resultados da análise dos dados mostraram que os programas Son-Rise e Floor Time tiveram um efeito positivo nas habilidades de interação social das crianças com TEA e reduziram os comportamentos estereotipados dessas crianças; Além disso, há uma diferença significativa entre a eficácia dos programas Son-Rise e Floor-Time nas habilidades de interação social e comportamento estereotipado no pós-teste, que é mais eficaz no Floor Time comparado ao programa Son-Rise.

Internal Consistency and Item Analysis of the Persian Version of the Child Sensory Profile 2 in Vulnerable Populations.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to establish the item analysis and internal consistency of the Persian version of the Child Sensory Profile 2 in 2 groups of typical and atypical children (autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities) aged 3 to 14 years. Method : The sample of this study included 120 typical and atypical children aged 3 to 14 years who referred to schools and rehabilitation centers in Tehran were selected using multistage sampling method. To collect data, the Child Sensory Profile 2 questionnaire was used, which is a set of questionnaires of the Sensory Profile 2. To analyze the data, the discrimination index was used to determine the discriminant validity of the Child Sensory Profile 2, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to determine the reliability in terms of internal consistency. Results: Discrimination index was satisfactory for all the items of the Child Sensory Profile 2. The values of Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.795-0.919 in typical children and 0.617-0.901 in autistic children, and 0.792-0.920 in children with learning disabilities. Conclusion: The Persian version of the child sensory profile 2 is a valid (discrimination with vulnerable populations) and reliable (internal consistency) tool for assessing sensory processing.

Assessment of Sensory Processing Characteristics in Children Between 0 and 14 Years of Age: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: processing disorder (SPD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can negatively affect objective, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Therefore, assessing sensory processing is critical in children. This study aimed to provide a current comprehensive list of assessment instruments special about sensory processing in children aged between 0 and 14 years. MATERIALS & METHODS: This systematic review focused on pediatric assessment of sensory processing. Three electronic databases (Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and ProQuest) were comprehensively searched for eligible studies, and language restriction (English) was applied.The search strategy consisted of keywords and medical subordinate headings for sensory processing and various pediatric assessment tools. RESULTS: Thirty-four assessment tools were identified, of which nine met the predefined inclusion criteria. The test of ideational praxis, clinical observations of proprioception, and pediatric clinical test of sensory interaction for balance were clinical observational assessment tools.The final tool was a caregiver or teacher reported questionnaire. The obtained studies evaluated the clinical use and psychometric properties of these nine assessment tools. CONCLUSION: The result of this study indicated that each of the sensory processing assessment tools considered various aspects of sensory processing.Selecting the most appropriate assessment tools to measure sensory processing function in children depends on specific components of sensory processing that need to be evaluated.

The Effect of Filial Therapy on Depressive Symptoms of Children with Cancer and Their Mother's Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer is an overwhelming life event that can completely change the lives of the sufferers and their parents. Todays, advances of medical science have shifted the fetal nature of childhood cancer to chronic one exposing children and their family to behavioral and psychosocial problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of filial therapy on children's depressive symptoms and their mother's stress, anxiety, and depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 32 mothers with their children who suffered from cancer were recruited (16 in each group). During a 10-week training sessions, filial therapy group underwent child-parent relation therapy (CPRT). Training sessions were held once a week. Control group received no training and only individual counseling sessions were held for them we needed. Both groups were assessed before and after the intervention using depression, anxiety, and stress questionnaire-21 (DASS-21), children depression inventory (CDI), and Wong-Baker faces pain rating scale (WBFPRS). Sample randomization and data analysis were conducted by using SPSS (version 20) and running independent t-test and chi-square test. P value< 0.05 was set as the significant level. RESULTS: Mothers in the filial therapy group experienced significant decrease in their level of depression, anxiety, and stress in the posttest (p < 0.001). In contrast to filial therapy group, mothers in the control group did not show an improvement in their level of depression, anxiety, and stress. Moreover, the results of the current investigative showed that depression of children in the filial therapy group significantly reduced at post-test (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the mean of children's depression in the control group remained steady. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study revealed that using filial therapy could reduce the depression of children with cancer and their parent's depression, anxiety, and stress. Accordingly, we suggest filial therapy programs as a routine for addressing psychosocial problems of children with cancer and their families.

A Comparison of Emotional-Behavioral Problems of Siblings at the Age Range of 3-9 Year Old Children with Autism and Down Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Children's emotional-behavioral problems will have a huge impact on their future. Such problems are more seen in the siblings of children with special needs. The present study aimed to compare emotional-behavioral problems in the healthy siblings of autistic children with the healthy siblings of children with Down syndrome in order to identify such children in Iran. MATERIALS & METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out in Tehran, Iran in 2016 on 174 healthy children aged between 3 and 9 yr old among whom 58 cases had autistic siblings, 58 cases had siblings with Down syndrome, and 58 cases had typically development siblings. The participants were selected using convenience sampling technique. All volunteer parents filled in SDQ Questionnaire. The study results were calculated using independent sample t-test, two-way ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc test by SPSS. RESULTS: The mean overall score of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was reported as 17.98±6.19 in the autism group, 11.01±6.56 in the Down syndrome group and 4.43±4.34 in the healthy group. There was a significant difference among autism, Down syndrome, and healthy groups. In the group of siblings with Down syndrome, the problems were significantly more in the age range of 3 to 7 yr old (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the scores of males and females (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Siblings with autism or Down syndrome can have especial psychological effects on healthy children in families in the way that such effect will be more with autistic children. Therefore, formulating beneficial strategies for their parents is used to prevent emotional behavioral problems.