Occupational Therapy's efficacy in children with Asperger's syndrome: a systematic review of randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Occupational Therapy
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Social Skills Development

Background:

• Asperger's syndrome (AS) presents significant challenges in social interaction for pediatric patients.
• Occupational therapy (OT) is increasingly explored as a supportive intervention for AS.
• Evidence on the efficacy of specific OT interventions for AS requires systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating OT interventions for children with AS.
• To assess the impact of OT on social skills in pediatric AS patients.
• To identify effective OT strategies for improving social abilities in AS.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Literature search across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, OT Seeker) up to December 2018.
• Inclusion of three RCTs focusing on OT interventions for social skills in AS.

Main Results:

• All three included RCTs reported improvements in overall social ability for intervention groups.
• LEGO therapy, Social Use of Language Programme, and "Let's Face It!" software showed positive outcomes.
• Parent Training combined with risperidone also demonstrated benefits in social skills.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapy interventions offer concrete benefits for children with AS in addressing social difficulties.
• Current evidence suggests OT can positively impact social skills development in pediatric AS.
• Further high-quality RCTs are necessary to fully elucidate the benefits and limitations of OT for AS patients.