Effectiveness of Robot-Assisted Intervention and Sensory Integration Therapy in Enhancing Social-Emotional Skills in Children With Autism

In the researchers' words

This study is designed to evaluate and compare the impact of robot-assisted intervention using a smart robot (Kebbi Air) and traditional sensory integration therapy on improving social-emotional skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or suspected ASD. The study will enroll children aged 4 to 6 years, who will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group, which will participate in guided interactions with the smart robot, or the control group, which will receive sensory integration therapy tailored to enhance emotional and social functioning. The research aims to explore whether interactions with the robot, which are designed to simulate real-world social scenarios, can provide comparable or enhanced benefits compared to traditional sensory integration methods. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be conducted over a 12-week period, using tools like the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) and the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) to measure changes in emotional regulation, sensory processing abilities, and social engagement. The study hypothesizes that the robot-assisted intervention will offer a novel, engaging, and effective approach to supporting the developmental needs of children with ASD.