Comparison of Sensory Processing Skills in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children Based on Pet Ownership

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to compare the sensory processing skills of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children according to their pet ownership status. Materials and Methods: A total of 81 children aged 5–12 years and their parents were included in the study. Participants were divided into four groups: (1) children with ASD who owned pets (n=19), (2) children with ASD who did not own pets (n=23), (3) typically developing children who owned pets (n=20), and (4) typically developing children who did not own pets (n=19). Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form and the Sensory Processing Scale Home Form. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the four groups on all subscales of the sensory processing scale (p<0.05). Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in only the tactile subscale between children with ASD who owned pets and those who did not (p<0.05). Furthermore, when typically developing children were compared with children with ASD, significant differences were found in many subscales regardless of pet ownership status. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the observed differences are largely shaped by diagnostic groups, while pet ownership appears to have a limited effect, particularly in the domain of tactile processing. However, to fully understanding its relationship with sensory processing, studies with larger samples, encompassing different pet species, and evaluated through longitudinal designs are required.

Keywords

• pet
• autism
• typical development
• sensory processing

Otizmli ve Tipik Gelişim Gösteren Çocuklarda Evcil Hayvan Sahipliğine Göre Duyusal İşlemleme Becerilerinin Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, otizm spektrum bozukluğu (OSB) tanılı ve tipik gelişim gösteren çocukların evcil hayvan sahipliği durumlarına göre duyusal işlemleme becerilerinin karşılaştırılmasıdır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 5–12 yaş aralığında toplam 81 çocuk ve ebeveynleri dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcılar dört gruba ayrılmıştır: (1) evcil hayvan sahibi OSB’li çocuklar (n=19), (2) evcil hayvan sahibi olmayan OSB’li çocuklar (n=23), (3) evcil hayvan sahibi tipik gelişim gösteren çocuklar (n=20) ve (4) evcil hayvan sahibi olmayan tipik gelişim gösteren çocuklar (n=19). Veriler, Demografik Bilgi Formu ve Duyusal İşlemleme Ölçeği Ev Formu ile toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Dört grup arasında duyusal işlemleme ölçeğinin tüm alt boyutlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklar olduğunu göstermiştir (p<0,05). İkili karşılaştırmalar sonucunda evcil hayvanı olan ve olmayan OSB’li çocuklarda sadece dokunsal alt boyutta anlamlı farklılık saptanmıştır (p<0,05). Ayrıca tipik gelişim gösteren çocuklarla OSB’li çocuklar karşılaştırıldığında, evcil hayvan sahipliği durumuna bakılmaksızın birçok alt boyutta anlamlı farklılıklar bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Buna göre gözlenen farklılıkların büyük ölçüde tanı grupları üzerinden şekillendiğini, evcil hayvan sahipliğinin ise özellikle dokunsal işlemleme alanında sınırlı bir etkiye sahip olabileceğini göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, duyusal işlemleme ile ilişkisinin etkilerin tam olarak anlaşılabilmesi için daha geniş örneklemlerle, farklı evcil hayvan türlerini de kapsayan ve uzunlamasına tasarlanmış çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• Evcil hayvan
• otizm
• tipik gelişim
• duyusal işlemleme

Ethical Statement

Araştırmanın etik kurul onayı, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Araştırma Etik Kurulundan 23.10.2023 tarihinde, SBA 23/056 karar numarası ile alınmıştır

Thanks

Araştırmaya katılan tüm katılımcılara yazarlar teşekkür etmektedir.

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