Study Comparing the Effects of SPM Techniques, Individually vs. Grouped in Children With ASD

Comparative Effects of Individual and Grouped Sensory Perceptual Motor Training on Gross Motor Skills and Quality of Life in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is the most prevalent disorder as it affects attention, awareness, cognitive development, social development, and emotional aspects too. It is one of the comprehensive developmental disorders in the early stage, which is characterized by weak social learning and communication, limited activities, interests, learning, insufficient imaginative and stereotypical thinking or non-functional thinking of movements and verbalities. A lack of sensory perception leads to a leading autistic child's sensitivity to sensory stimuli or weak sensitivity and the child is not aware of the surrounding environment.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sensory Perceptual Motor Training on Individual; Other: Sensory Perceptual Motor Training on Group

Detailed Description

The current study will be randomized control trial; data will be collected from Lahore Garrison Institute of Special Education. This study will be conducted with 32 participants equally divided into two groups. Inclusion criteria will be Children who diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (mild & moderate) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-5), Have an IQ 70 according to Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales and be able to understand and follow instructions, Children whose age between 4 to 12 and All participants had to be able to sit and walk without support according to GMFCS. Exclusion criteria for the study include Children who will associate with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder signs, Upper limb musculoskeletal injuries, Visual or auditory impairments, Children who had received sensory integration therapy for > 3 months within the past 6 months and Children with speech delay, hearing impairment, or intellectual disability. SPM training will be given each child individually in the first group. In the second group techniques will be apply in a group therapy. The SPM training programme will apply for 10 months. Outcomes, including the Test of Movement Battery for Children, Quality of life scale will be use. Data analysis will be performed using SPSS version 23.00

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: IMRAN AMJAD, PHD; Phone Number: +9233224390125; Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Muhammad Asif Javed, MS; Phone Number: +923224209422; Email: a.javed@riphah.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore,, Punjab, Pakistan, 54000
      • Recruiting
      • Riphah International University,
      • Contact: IMRAN AMJAD, PHD; Phone Number: +9233224390125; Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk
      • Contact: Muhammad Asif Javed, MS; Phone Number: +923224209422; Email: a.javed@riphah.edu.pk
      • Principal Investigator: Sara Sattar, MS*
      • Sub-Investigator: Mahrukh Badar, MS

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children who diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (mild & moderate) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-5)
• Have an IQ 70 according to Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
• Children whose age between 4 to 12
• All participants had to be able to sit and walk without support

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children who will associate with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder signs
• Upper limb musculoskeletal injuries
• Visual or auditory impairments
• Children who had received sensory integration therapy for > 3 months within the past 6 months
• Children with speech delay, hearing impairment, or intellectual disability

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Individual ASD Children; Activities were applied individually for the IND group. Individual training was applied according to the treatment protocol, activities done by step by step from simple to complex. Each activities for individuals training will be applied for 2 hours, three sessions per week, for ten successive months	Other: Sensory Perceptual Motor Training on Individual; Sensory InputWheelbarrow walks, swimming, and drying off.; ProprioceptiveClimbing, pushing, pulling, and carrying heavy objects.; VestibularSwinging, trampolining, and playground games.; TactileStereognosis training, textured paths, and messy play (mud, sand).; Motor PlanningStatue spinning, crawling through/under objects, and quick movements.; Balance and PostureVarious balance positions (e.g., hands and knees).; Ocular ControlCatching and tossing balls.; Bilateral CoordinationActivities using both sides of the body (e.g., stick ball).; Visual-SpatialWalking, stair climbing, and puzzles.; Fine Motor SkillsPuzzles, bead stringing, and drawing.; Gross MotorStanding, walking, running, and throwing games.
Experimental: Group of ASD Children; Activities were applied in group . Group training was applied according to the treatment protocol, activities done by step by step from simple to complex. each activities for group training will be applied for 2 hours, three sessions per week, for ten successive months	Other: Sensory Perceptual Motor Training on Group; Sensory InputWheelbarrow walks, swimming, and drying off.; ProprioceptiveClimbing, pushing, pulling, and carrying heavy objects.; VestibularSwinging, trampolining, and playground games.; TactileStereognosis training, textured paths, and messy play (mud, sand).; Motor PlanningStatue spinning, crawling through/under objects, and quick movements.; Balance and PostureVarious balance positions (e.g., hands and knees).; Ocular ControlCatching and tossing balls.; Bilateral CoordinationActivities using both sides of the body (e.g., stick ball).; Visual-SpatialWalking, stair climbing, and puzzles.; Fine Motor SkillsPuzzles, bead stringing, and drawing.; Gross MotorStanding, walking, running, and throwing games.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
THE DEVELOPMENTAL COORDINATION The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire	The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) is a parent-report screening tool for identifying motor coordination difficulties in children aged 5 to 15 years, 11 months. It includes 15 items across three domains: Control During Movement, Fine Motor/Handwriting, and General Coordination, rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Scores below age-specific cutoffs suggest potential Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). It is reliable, quick (10-15 min), but not diagnostic, requiring further evaluation.	10-15 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Short Sensory Profile	The Short Sensory Profile (SSP) is a caregiver-completed questionnaire used to assess sensory processing difficulties in children aged 3-14 years. It includes 38 items across seven domains (e.g., tactile sensitivity, auditory filtering), rated on a 5-point scale. Scores help identify sensory modulation issues affecting daily activities. The SSP is quick, reliable, and widely used, but it is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument.	2-5 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sara Sattar, MS*, Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 26, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 20, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 28, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; DSM-5; sensory perceptual motor training; Test of Movement Battery for children,
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR & AHS/24/Sara Sattar

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No