title: The Effects of Rhythm and Robotic Interventions on the Imitation/Praxis, Interpersonal Synchrony, and Motor Performance of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: We assessed the effects of three interventions, rhythm, robotic, and standard-of-care, on the imitation/praxis, interpersonal synchrony, and overall motor performance of 36 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) between 5 and 12 years of age. Children were matched on age, level of functioning, and services received, prior to random assignment to one of the three groups. Training was provided for 8 weeks with 4 sessions provided each week. We assessed generalized changes in motor skills from the pretest to the posttest using a standardized test of motor performance, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition (BOT-2). We also assessed training-specific changes in imitation/praxis and interpersonal synchrony during an early and a late session. Consistent with the training activities practiced, the rhythm and robot groups improved on the body coordination composite of the BOT-2, whereas the comparison group improved on the fine manual control composite of the BOT-2. All three groups demonstrated improvements in imitation/praxis. The rhythm and robot groups also showed improved interpersonal synchrony performance from the early to the late session. Overall, socially embedded movement-based contexts are valuable in promoting imitation/praxis, interpersonal synchrony, and motor performance and should be included within the standard-of-care treatment for children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Biomechanics and Movement Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
authors.forename: Sudha M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Biomechanics and Movement Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
authors.forename: Maninderjit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Isabel K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.affiliation: Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Kerry L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Biomechanics and Movement Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA; Physical Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
authors.forename: Anjana N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bhat