Researchers at the Center for Research in Technology and Health Services (CINTESIS) have developed a program to improve the skills of children with autism spectrum disorders or language disorders, it was announced on Monday.
The center’s statement clarified that the study, published in the scientific journal Brain Sciences, aims to “help improve the programming skills” of children with autism spectrum disorders or language disorders.
Targeting children who find it difficult to “make eye contact, ask for something, or express emotions”, a research team coordinated by Marisa Lusada of CINTESIS@RISE and the University of Aveiro developed, validated and tested a new program that “is already being applied in dozens of kindergartens” of the country.
The program is based on a pilot study conducted on 20 preschool children with autism spectrum disorders, speech development disorders, learning and socialization problems.
Classes were held in 16 kindergartens in the district of Aveiro, each child attended 24 classes.
To create a “personalized intervention,” the researchers enlisted the help of kindergarten teachers, parents and caregivers, and other kindergarten children who “participated in some of the activities.”
According to CINTESIS, the results of the study showed “a significant improvement in various program competencies”, in particular at the language level.
“This improvement was observed both in the assessment of children and in the opinion of parents and kindergarten teachers,” he adds.
Researcher Marisa Lusada, quoted in the statement, notes that this is “the first pilot study on this issue conducted in the country.”
“Speech therapists can use it with other children for evidence-based clinical practice,” he adds.
To answer requests from kindergarten teachers and speech therapists, the researchers have made an “author’s edition” with a tool that includes a guide with all the tasks and a set of 300 colorfully illustrated paper cards available to professionals.
In addition to CINTESIS@RISE and the University of Aveiro, the Center for Linguistics of the University of Lisbon participated in the study.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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