Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition marked by challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior. Creative arts interventions are commonly employed by occupational therapy practitioners for children with ASD. Here, you can find some of the most recent leading research into ASD and art intervention.
Research
Art Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review-American Journal of Occupational Therapy
By examining the effectiveness of creative arts intervention in the treatment of children with ASD and linking the evidence to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (4th ed.; OTPF–4), this paper, published on August 25th, 2022, offers occupational therapists valuable insights into the benefits of this approach. Through reviewing peer-reviewed articles from six different databases, the study found that Children with ASD showed improvement in three key areas (process, social interaction, and body functions). Both group and individual sessions had similar positive effects, but significant improvements required multiple sessions. The results of the study demonstrate that creative arts interventions are effective in improving occupation-based outcomes for children with ASD.
Published in June of 2016, this study investigated the effects of a family-based art therapy program on social interactions, verbal skills, and stereotypic behaviors of autistic children. The program consisted of 15 sessions for 10 children and their parents, followed by 15 home sessions. A randomized control group completed a pre- and post-test, and a follow-up was conducted one month later. Analysis suggested that repetition of family-based art therapy may reinforce perceptual, language, cognitive, and movement functions and decrease stereotype behaviors. The program was effective in changing stereotype behaviors and increasing flexibility and adaptiveness in autistic children.
This article presents a case study of a 6-year-old boy with autism, who underwent art therapy treatment. Children naturally create art to relate to their world, but those with autism often struggle with this. The study investigates how art therapy interventions helped the boy develop and improve his ability to relate. The article highlights the boy's progress by analyzing three of his drawings that demonstrate his growth in developing object constancy. Additionally, the article explores the significance of art therapy in treating children with autism spectrum disorders.
This study looked at how well sandplay worked as a tool to encourage creative and symbolic play in kids with autism spectrum disorders. 25 elementary school students in four special education classes took part in sandplay workshops once a week for ten sessions as part of the school-based action-research intervention. Using rituals centered on rhythm and movement as well as sandplay, the intervention sought to improve social interaction, communication, and symbolic play. The outcomes demonstrated that during the course of the 10-week program, the children's verbal expression increased, their sustained social interaction rose, and their play became more symbolic, spontaneous, and novel. This implies that in schools that work with kids who have autism spectrum disorders, creativity-based therapies can support behavior/social skills-based approaches.
This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the current art therapy practices for children with ASD. Participants were randomly selected among established and up-and-coming art therapy practitioners in the United States. 14 art therapists' opinions were gathered through a survey, which were then analyzed using consensual qualitative research guidelines. The study identified several domains of importance, including the art therapists' level of experience and scope, unique aspects of using art therapy with children who have ASD, preferred art materials, primary aims, and preferred theoretical approaches. Practical guidelines were distilled from these findings to aid in art therapy provision for children with ASD. This study is a crucial first step towards expanding the evidence-base to support art therapy as a routine form of treatment for ASD.
In the UK, approximately 20% of art therapists work with this population.This study was published May 5th, 2017. The British Association of Art Therapists developed ten overarching guideline recommendations for clinical practice, including working creatively and flexibly, monitoring progress, and professional responsibilities and self-care. These guidelines reflect current best practice in the UK for art therapy with children and adults who have learning disabilities.
In 2018, a study was conducted to explore how art therapy can enhance communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorders. The study employed a qualitative research methodology in the form of a single case study. The case study presented art therapy interventions used to improve social skills and attention span of a child in classroom activities. The paper highlights how art therapy interventions can facilitate non-verbal expression and improve communication among children with autism.