
Maria Dolores Carcel Lopez
Murcia University, SpainPresentation Title:
Effects of a multisensory stimulation program on the behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder
Abstract
The Aim of this work is to design, apply and validate a multisensory stimulation intervention program for students with ASD and evaluate the impact of the program in his behavior. Students with autism often present hyper or hypo sensitivity, as well as hypo or hyper reactivity to environments. Which translates into maladaptive behaviors, that may have an exteroceptive origin (based on an alteration in the reception of the stimulus), or an interoceptive or proprioceptive origin (Morán Holgado, 2014). In the empirical study: 30 students diagnosed with ASD (grades 1, 2 and 3) participated in this research. Different measures will be used in the pretest and post-test situation: The behavioral scales Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-3 (Sparrow et al. 2016); The Sensory Profile2 (Dunn, 2014) and the Repetitive Behavior Scale Revised (Bodfish et al, 2000). In addition, the satisfaction of parents and teachers with the program was collected through a questionnaire designed ad hoc. Regarding the results before the program, we found that grade 3 students are the ones who show the worst scores in adaptive development. Grade 2 students show a broader spectrum of scores in the areas measured by the Vineland-3, showing more heterogeneity in their levels of adaptive development. Regarding the results on the effectiveness of the program, the results show slight changes in development (Vineland-3) when the direct scores of the variables are compared. In our case, improvements in sensory processing are also verified. These improvements are statistically significant for students in grade 1 and 3. In the case of students in grade 2, these improvements are not statistically significant, although a trend towards more normalized processing can be seen. The data about parents’ and teachers’ satisfaction were very positive but in the case of repetitive behaviors, while adults report that these have improved in the assesment through Bodfish scale the results do not agree.
Biography
Maria Dolores Carcel Lopez has completed his PhD in 2024 from Murcia University, Spain. General Director of the CFI Gabriel Perez Carcel, a center under the Regional Ministry of Education of the Region of Murcia. Director and Founder of the Day Center for people with ASD in adulthood Aufren Center. Responsible for training technicians of the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic in matters related to people with ASD of the Unicef project, the University of Murcia and the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic. She has several publications an has been serving as an editorial board member of some reputed journals.