An intervention approach for children with Autism: Aquatherapy

Abstract

Autistic disorder, a developmental disorder that appears during the first three years of life and is characterized by communication problems, social interaction deficits and repetitive/ restricted interests and behaviors. Although a diagnosis criterion of autistic disorders does not involve restrictions to cover sensory, perception, and motor skills, studies and observations indicated that some of the children with autistic disorder had delay for motor development, lower in physical performance and activity level, and differences in response process to the sensory stimulus than children without autistic disorder. Aquatherapy is utilized to improve physical performance, regulate to sensory stimulus, and providing social integration as intervention for children in literature. However, although these useful effects, aquatherapy not supplied enough to children with autistic disorder, and it is observed that family, teachers and other specialists have some difficulties about performing it. This study focuses on the usefulness of the aquatherapy, adopted measures and teaching strategies, examples of aquatic program and plays for different age groups and safety issues during activities.

Keywords

• autistic disorder, aquatherapy, play, adaptation

Otistik Bozukluk Gösteren Çocuklarda Bir Müdahale Yaklaşımı: Su İçi Etkinlikler

Abstract

Otistik bozukluk, yaşamın ilk üç yılında ortaya çıkan, iletişim ve sosyal etkileşim sorunları, sınırlı/yinelenen ilgi ve davranışlarla karakterize bir gelişimsel bozukluktur. Otistik bozukluk teşhis ölçütü, duyu, algı ve motor becerileri kapsayan sınırlılıklar içermemesine rağmen yapılan çalışmalar ve gözlemler, otistik bozukluk tanısı almış bazı çocukların motor gelişiminde gecikmeler, fiziksel performans ve aktivite düzeylerinde düşüklük, duyusal uyarılara tepki süreçlerinde otistik bozukluk göstermeyen çocuklara göre farklılıklar bulunduğunu göstermiştir. Alanyazında, su içi etkinlikler çocuklarda fiziksel performansı arttırma, duyusal tepkileri düzenleme ve sosyal etkileşimi sağlamada bir müdahale yaklaşımı olarak kullanılmaktadır. Ancak, bu yararlı etkilere rağmen, otistik bozukluk gösteren çocuklarda su içi etkinliklere yeterince yer verilmemekte ve uygulanması konusunda aileler, öğretmenler ve diğer uzmanlarca bazı sorunlar yaşandığı gözlenmektedir. Bu çalışma; otistik bozukluk gösteren çocuklarda su içi etkinliklerin yararları, yapılacak uyarlamalar ve izlenmesi gereken yaklaşımlar, farklı yaş gruplarında yapılabilecek su içi etkinlik ve oyunlar ve etkinlik sırasında alınması gereken önlemler üzerine odaklaşmaktadır.

Keywords

• otistik bozukluk, su içi etkinlik, oyun, uyarlama

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