Association for Behavior Analysis International

Research with Socially Assistive Robots as therapy agents for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is innovative and has the potential to add to the quality and quantity of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy hours. The results and implications from nine research studies will be presented. Benefits to the clients with ASD, staff and parental perceptions, robot design and uses, and future directions will be discussed. Results show that robots are able to teach new skills to children with ASD, the children show positive affect when interacting with a robot, and staff are able to design behavioral interventions to be implemented by the robot. A study of parental perspectives indicated areas where parents have trust and do not have trust in the robot as a therapy agent for children with ASD. Future implications for the use of Socially Assistive Robots in therapy for children with ASD will conclude the presentation.

Globally, there is an increasing need to lessen behavioural challenges in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and address parental mental health. Tantrums, noncompliance, violence, and self-injury are examples of behavioural issues that impede skill acquisition and hinder educational attainment. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of Parent Training via video conference to reduce the parental distress and disruptive behaviours of their children with Autism. It was a mixed-methods rater blind randomized controlled feasibility trial. A total of 20 mothers who have children with ASD and scored high on the Irritability subscale of Aberrant Behaviour Scales (ABC) were randomized into either the Parent Training for Disruptive Behaviour (PTDB) (n = 10) or Parent Education (PE) arm (n = 10). The Parent Training for Disruptive Behaviour is based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis encompasses 11 core sessions, one telephone booster and one virtual session. The trained therapist delivered the intervention over six months. Each session lasted for 60 to 90 minutes. I -depth qualitative interviews (8) were conducted to explore participants’ lived experiences of having a child with Autism and their experiences of participating in Parent training for disruptive behaviour. A preliminary analysis indicated that both PTDB and PE showed a reduction in the subscales of ABC including Irritability, Stereotypic Behaviour, Inappropriate Speech, hyperactivity, and Social Withdrawal. The PTDB is also found to help for reducing noncompliance and increase adaptive skills. Qualitative interviews highlighted that the pandemic added huge distress due to the closure of therapeutic centers. Mothers showed keen interest in taking parent training and recommended to all mothers who received the diagnosis. However, there is no improvement in the scores of parenting stress. Parent training was found to be more suitable in managing the behaviours of children with Autism as compared to Parent Education. The findings informed the design of future appropriately powered multi-site clinical and cost-effectiveness RCTs in Pakistan. Trial registration: ID: NCT04339153.