IMPACTS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CREATIVE METHOD (DANCE – MOVEMENT) FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH AUTISM TO SELF-SERVICE, SOCIAL AND MOTOR SKILLS

The aim of the research. Identify of dance - movement for preschool children with autism. Methods. The study included 29 children with autism. Inclusion criteria: to obtain parents for consent; children age 5-6 years; children... [ view full abstract ]

The aim of the research. Identify of dance - movement for preschool children with autism.
Methods. The study included 29 children with autism. Inclusion criteria: to obtain parents for consent; children age 5-6 years; children with autism; the set autism degree of CARS. Children were evaluated: the standardized Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory "PEDI" test evaluates: the self-service and social skills. Bruininks - Oseretsky motor skills test evaluates: the gross motor, upper limb coordination and fine motor skills. Evaluations were carried out in occupational therapy class. Children were assessed three times. Assessments were for baseline, after 3 weeks and 2 months.
Results. In the purposes of dance - movement for children with autism, after 3 weeks of social skills level significantly improved to 24.2 ± 9.3 points, upper limb coordination skills improved to 7.0 ± 2.6 points, gross motor skills improved to 14.0 ± 3.9 points and fine motor skills improved to 23.2 ± 7.1 points. All these skills and self-service significantly improved after 2 months (p<0.05)
Conclusion. 1. Before dance-movement sessions for children’s with autism skills of self-service, social and motor skills were significantly lower compared with the normal children development. 2. For the purposes of dance - movement after 3 weeks, was a significant improvement for social and motor skills (p<0.05). 3. After 2 months of dance - movement method for children with autism were statistically significant improvement for self-service self-service, social and motor skills.
(p<0.05).