The Changes in persons with Autistic spectrum disorders after receiving the artificial elephant-assisted therapy program

Main Article Content

Maethisa Pongsaksri
Nuntanee Satiansukpong
Daranee Sasat

Abstract

  Abstract


Objective: To study the changes in persons with Autistic spectrum disorders after receiving the program.


Method: The program developed from Robot-assisted therapy and the Model of sensory integration was examined in 10 autistic participants aged 8-15 years who met the inclusion criteria. These participants received the therapy program for 1.5 hours per session within 4 weeks from July 2-24, 2016; 2 sessions a week, in a total of 8 sessions, besides a standard occupational therapy program. The changes of abilities and behaviors of each individual were video recorded at the first and eighth sessions. Two occupational therapists (OTs) with experience in working with persons with ASD, who were not involved in this study, watched and scored the recorded material. The scores were used to find agreement between the raters. The agreement scores were analyzed by using Wilcoxon Sign Rank test. In addition, the changes of abilities and behaviors of the individuals were explored via semi-structured interviews with his/her caregiver after the completion of the therapy program. Content analysis was used to find the themes in the interviewed data.


Results: After receiving the therapy program, participants with ASD showed increased occupational performance abilities and verbal and nonverbal social behaviors (P<.05), which were congruent with the reports of the caregivers. Their postural controls and balances did not increase and their maladaptive behaviors did not decrease (P >.05). However, the caregivers reported that the participants’ postural controls and balances had improved and repetitive behaviors had decreased.


Conclusion: The artificial elephant-assisted therapy program may contribute to the development of occupational performance abilities and verbal and nonverbal social behaviors of persons with ASD.


Key words: Occupational performance abilities, Artificial elephant-assisted therapy, Autistic spectrum disorders, Social behaviors


บทคัดย่อ


วัตถุประสงค์ ศึกษาการเปลี่ยนแปลงของบุคคลออทิสติกหลังจากได้รับโปรแกรมฯ


วิธีการ โปรแกรมฯน ามาทดสอบกับบุคคลออทิสติก อายุ 8-15 ปีทีผ่านเกณฑ์ คัดเลือก จ านวน 10 คน เป็นเวลา 4 สัปดาห์ ๆ ละ 2 ครั้งๆ ละ 1.50 ชั่วโมง ทั้งหมด 8 ครั้ง ตั้งแต่ 2-24 กรกฎาคม 2559 นอกเหนือจากโปรแกรมกิจกรรมบ าบัดตามปกติประเมินการ เปลี่ยนแปลงความสามารถและพฤติกรรมด้วยการถ่ายวิดีโอผู้เข้าร่วมแต่ละคน ในครั้งที่ 1 และครั้งที่ 8 โดยนักกิจกรรมบ าบัด 2 คนที่มีประสบการณ์ ท างานกับออทิสติกและ ไม่เกี่ยวข้องกับการวิจัยครั้งนี้ น าข้อมูล มาหาคะแนนที่สอดคล้องกันของผู้ประเมิน 2 คน วิเคราะห์ด้วย Wilcoxon Sign Rank test และประเมินการเปลี่ยนแปลงความสามารถและ พฤติกรรมของผู้เข้าร่วมแต่ละคน ด้วยการสัมภาษณ์กึ่งโครงสร้างกับผู้ปกครองหลัก หลังโปรแกรมเสร็จสิ้น แล้ววิเคราะห์ข้อมูลเชิงเนื้อหา (Content analysis)


ผลการศึกษา ผู้เข้าร่วม มีความสามารถในการท ากิจกรรม และพฤติกรรมทาง สังคมทั้งทางกายและวาจาเพิ่มขึ้น (P < .05) สอดคล้องกับรายงานของผู้ปกครอง การทรงท่า และการทรงตัวไม่เพิ่มขึ้น และพฤติกรรมที่ไม่พึงประสงค์ไม่ลดลงอย่างมีนัยส าคัญ (P >.05) แต่ผู้ปกครองรายงานว่า การทรงท่า และทรงตัวท าได้ดีขึ้น และพฤติกรรมซ ้าๆ ลดลง


สรุป โปรแกรมการใช้ช้างจ าลองช่วยบ าบัด อาจพัฒนาความสามารถในการท า กิจกรรม และพฤติกรรมทางสังคมทั้งทางกายและวาจาของบุคคลออทิสติก


ค าส าคัญ: ความสามารถในการท ากิจกรรม, ช้างจ าลองช่วยบ าบัด, ออทิสติก พฤติกรรมทางสังคม


 

Article Details

Section
Original article (นิพนธ์ต้นฉบับ)
Author Biographies

Maethisa Pongsaksri, Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences Chiang Mai University

Associate Professor

Nuntanee Satiansukpong, Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences Chiang Mai Univeristy

Associate Professor

Daranee Sasat, Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences Chiang Mai University

Occupational therapist assistance

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