Thesis:

The effectiveness of sensory and motor integration exercises on social interaction and anxiety in children with autism spectrum in Kashmar city in the year 1400-01

The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of sensorimotor integration exercises on improving social interaction and anxiety in children with autism. The research method was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all children with autism spectrum disorders in Kashmer city during 1401. A number of 20 children were selected as a research sample using the available sampling method and according to the inclusion criteria of the autism center and were randomly placed in a control group and an experimental group. At first, both groups were evaluated using the Gars questionnaire, then sensorimotor integration exercises were performed on the experimental group during 21 sessions of 45 minutes. The control group did not receive any training. At the end of the treatment sessions, both groups were evaluated again using the Gars questionnaire. SPSS software was used for data analysis at two levels of descriptive and inferential statistics. At the descriptive level, the mean and standard deviation, and at the inferential level, in line with the hypotheses of the research, which was based on the comparison between the control and experimental groups, one or more variables analysis of covariance was used. The findings showed that the sensorimotor integration exercises It has reduced anxiety and improved the social interaction of the experimental group. The amount of this effect in the post-test stage was 97.8%. Also, in the comparison made between the two experimental and control groups, the claim is proved that performing sensorimotor integration exercises played a significant role in improving the symptoms of these children compared to the control group. According to the findings of this research, it can be Sensory-motor integration exercises are useful as an intervention method to reduce anxiety and improve social interaction of children with autism.

Keywords: Autism - sensory-motor integration exercises - anxiety - social interaction