Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
Open Access

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulties in social communication, social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. Due to communication and social challenges, people with autism frequently struggle to build and maintain healthy relationships with peers and adults. Studies of the research literature on social skills curricula indicate that these methods frequently fall short in fostering the generalization of learned abilities and may be less than successful. Virtual reality-based intervention could give interventionists a tool to increase student engagement during instruction and Programme for generalization. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of virtual reality based social skills intervention on social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder in a clinical setting. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: For this pilot study 7 children diagnosed with ASD (4 males, 3 females) were recruited. Baseline data collected using Social Responsiveness Scale 2 (SRS-2). VR based intervention provided thrice a week for 4 weeks (12 Sessions of 30 mins each). Outcomes were measured after 12 sessions. Findings: The results demonstrated significant improvement in social skills after the intervention relative to baseline scores. Teacher noted marked reductions in SRS-2 total T score, with improvement in SRS-2 social communication, social motivation and social awareness. Conclusion & Significance: The results of this research give support to the use of virtual reality-based interventions for autistic children. Further research with a larger sample size in different geographic regions is essential for more generalized outcomes.

Biography

Deepti Ahuja is an assistant professor and an occupational therapist. She has finished a master’s degree in occupational therapy with a focus on neurology and is presently pursuing a doctorate at Amity University. She has experience working as an occupational therapist at ISIC Hospital, Nurtures Clinic, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. She has been conducting academic and clinical research for more than 13 years. Her research focuses on wearable technologies, autism spectrum disorder, and play-based occupational therapy.