Investigation of the Effect of Clay Therapy on Stereotypic Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of clay therapy on stereotypic behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sample of the study consisted of 6 children diagnosed with atypical autism between the ages of 4-9. In the study in which a one-group pretest-posttest experimental design was adapted, the Repetitive Behaviors Scale (TEDÖ-R-TV) consisting of 6 subscales was used to evaluate stereotypic behaviors. The clay therapy program was implemented twice a week for 8 weeks in 40-minute sessions. Within the scope of the program, activities such as free play with clay, finding objects hidden in clay, creating geometric shapes, making human faces and household objects were carried out. The video recordings of the first and last sessions of each participant were examined separately by 3 expert observers according to the scale items and each of the experts independently entered the data. For data analysis, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to compare the pre-test and post-test mean scores of stereotypic behaviors, self-harming behaviors, compulsive behaviors, sameness-uniformity behaviors, and limited behaviors subscales using SPSS 20.0 Package Program. As for results, it was determined that the clay therapy program was effective in decreasing the stereotypic behaviors of children with ASD and that this therapeutic approach can be used as an alternative method in the treatment process of children with ASD.

Keywords

• Clay therapy
• autism spectrum disorder
• stereotypic behaviors

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu Olan Çocuklarda Kil Terapisinin Stereotipik Davranışlar Üzerindeki Etkisinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, kil terapisinin otizm spektrum bozukluğu (OSB) olan çocukların stereotipik davranışları üzerindeki etkisini incelemektir. Araştırmanın örneklemini, 4-9 yaş arasında atipik otizm tanısı almış 6 çocuk oluşturmaktadır. Tek grup ön test-son test deneysel desenin kullanıldığı çalışmada, stereotipik davranışların değerlendirilmesi için 6 alt ölçekten oluşan Tekrarlayıcı Davranışlar Ölçeği (TEDÖ-R-TV) kullanılmıştır. Kil terapisi programı 8 hafta boyunca, haftada iki kez 40'ar dakikalık seanslar şeklinde uygulanmıştır. Program kapsamında kil ile serbest oyun, kil içerisinde gizlenmiş nesneleri bulma, geometrik şekiller oluşturma, insan yüzü ve ev eşyaları yapma gibi etkinlikler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Her bir katılımcının ilk ve son seanslarına ilişkin video kayıtları, 3 uzman gözlemci tarafından ölçek maddelerine göre ayrı ayrı incelenmiş ve uzmanların her biri bağımsız olarak veri girişlerini gerçekleştirmiştir. Verilerin analizinde SPSS 20.0 Paket Programı kullanılarak, stereotipik davranışlar, kendine zarar verme davranışları, kompülsif davranışlar, aynılık-tekdüzelik davranışları, sınırlı davranışlar alt ölçeklerinin ön test ve son test puan ortalamalarının karşılaştırılmasında Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar Testi uygulanmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, kil terapisi programının OSB'li çocukların stereotipik davranışlarının azaltılmasında etkili olduğu ve bu terapatik yaklaşımın OSB'li çocukların tedavi sürecinde alternatif bir yöntem olarak kullanılabileceği belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

• Kil terapisi
• otizm spektrum bozukluğu
• stereotipik davranışlar

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