Autism Spectrum Disorder

Introduction: The present study aimed to determine the effects of a selected group exercise on motor skills and cognitive function in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).Methods: Forty children with ASD aged 5-12 years participated in this quasi-experimental study. The Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were performed in 3 assessment stages of baseline, pretest, and posttest in Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK). The repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used for analyzing the collected data.Results: The current research results demonstrated that the selected exercises presented positive effects on motor skills (P<0.05) in the studied subjects; however, they indicated no significant effects on their cognitive function (P>0.05).Conclusion: According to the present study results, the SPARK’s training is effective on children with ASDs and severe mobility limitations; however, it presented no cognitive function improvement in the study participants.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on the psychological capital of mothers with children with an autism spectrum disorder. This research is methodically classified as experimental research and had a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this study included all mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders in medical and rehabilitation centers in Semnan in 2018. Twenty mothers with children with autism spectrum disorder were selected as the research sample by available sampling method and were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. Initially, both groups were evaluated by an autism questionnaire. Then, the intervention program based on acceptance and commitment was performed in 10 sessions of 45 minutes and 2 times a week by the researcher on the experimental group. While the control group did not receive such intervention. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. The results showed that treatment based on acceptance and commitment has improved the psychological capital of mothers.

Objective:    The aim of this study was to compare the life satisfaction and hoping in mothers of children with special learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and normal. Methods:  The present research method was causal-comparative. The statistical population of was mothers of fifth and sixth-grade children in the north of Tehran, whose children, according to expert diagnosis, had a special learning disability and autism spectrum disorder, and mothers were selected from a normal group too. Finally, the sample of 90 people (30 people in each group) was selected by non-probabilistic and purposeful sampling method. The tools used were Snyder's Hoping Scale and Huebner's Life Satisfaction Multidimensional Scale. Results: The results showed that the mean score of hoping in mothers with autistic children was lower than that of mothers with disability and normal children (p<0.01), and the mean life satisfaction score of mothers with normal children was higher than that of mothers with autism children (p<0.01). Also, the mean score of hoping and life satisfaction of mothers with specific learning disability children was more than mothers with autism children (p<0.01). Conclusion: The relatively low level of hoping and life satisfaction in mothers of children with autism spectrum need more attention and arrangements which is very important for their psycho-social empowerment

Background: Autism spectrum disorder is a neuro-developmental disorder with a significant deficiency in communication characteristics, social interactions and stereotyped behaviors. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate physical activity participation in Iranian children and adolescent with autism spectrum disorders. Materials and Methods: The research method was descriptive and survey. The statistical samples were 370 children and adolescent with ASD, age 8-20 years from Iran. The international physical activity questionnaire for older children and adolescents used for measuring physical activity levels. Data analyzed by using SPSS<sub>23 . Results: The results showed that 73.8% of participants were inactive during the last 7 days; 17.8% of them were active occasionally (1 to 2 times); 6.5% (3 to 4 times) and 1.1% (5 to 6 times) were physically active. During the last 7 days on weekends, 58.2% reported usually sitting position, 22.2% walking or standing, and 14.6% running or active playing and only 1.1% reported lots of running or playing. There was no significant difference in physical activity levels between girls and boys. Conclusion: The results showed the limited participation in physical activity among Iranian children and adolescents with ASD. This study seems to be a helpful for identifying the patterns and promotion of physical activity.

It has been shown that physical activity (PA) is related to motor proficiency in children. Nevertheless, relationships between PA and balance performance among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been rarely examined. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the relationships between PA and static and dynamic balance performance among children with ASD. The method used in this study was correlational. Eighty children with ASD (range age between 8 to 14 years old, average 11.51 years old) attended in special schools participated in this study. PA was measured using Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Static and dynamic balance tests were used to measure balance performance. Pearson correlation test and regression analysis were used for data analysis. Children with ASD had low amount of PA and balance performance. PA was significantly and directly associated with static and dynamic balance performance. In addition, PA has significantly and directly predicted both static and dynamic balance performance. PA plays a very important role in the motor proficiency in children with ASD. Hence, there is a need for targeted strategies and interventions to increase the level of PA in this population.