The Effect of a Robot on Children with Severe Autism During a Song Activity

• Main Author: Nelson, Michelle
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2013
• Subjects: autism; turn taking; social engagement; robots; Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/3942; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4941&context=etd

This study is a small portion of a larger work examining the effects of low dosage robot use in interactive and social engagement therapy for children with autism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the participation of the subjects during song activities. Four children were used as participants, each receiving a total of 20 play-based treatment sessions targeting engagement and social interaction. The clinician incorporated the robot into these treatment sessions for 10 minute long segments within a 50 minute session. The current study analyzed these 10 minute segments with the robot, coding turn-taking behaviors. Results indicated that, at least for a time, the robot facilitated improvement in these behaviors for two of the four children. The other two children demonstrated no improvements. These results are discussed, and the limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are examined.