The Impact of Sandplay Therapy on Perceptual Reasoning and Neuropsychological Functioning in Children with Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Sandplay Therapy on enhancing perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving ۳۰ children aged ۶-۱۲ years diagnosed with ASD. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=۱۵) or the control group (n=۱۵). The intervention group received eight ۹۰-minute sessions of Sandplay Therapy over two months, while the control group received standard care. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) and NEPSY-II were used to measure perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning, respectively, at baseline, post-intervention, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA with repeated measurements and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-۲۷. Descriptive statistics showed significant improvements in the intervention group for both perceptual reasoning (M=۹۵.۵۳, SD=۷.۴۸ at baseline to M=۱۰۷.۴۵, SD=۸.۲۱ post-intervention) and neuropsychological functioning (M=۸۹.۷۴, SD=۶.۹۵ at baseline to M=۱۰۱.۲۹, SD=۷.۵۶ post-intervention). Mixed-design ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time (F(۲, ۵۶)=۳۰.۱۵, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۵۲ for perceptual reasoning; F(۲, ۵۶)=۳۲.۷۵, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۵۴ for neuropsychological functioning) and group-by-time interactions (F(۲, ۵۶)=۲۴.۱۲, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۴۷ for perceptual reasoning; F(۲, ۵۶)=۲۸.۷۵, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۵۰ for neuropsychological functioning). Bonferroni post-hoc tests confirmed significant differences between baseline and post-intervention (p<.۰۰۱) and baseline and follow-up (p<.۰۰۱) for the intervention group. Sandplay Therapy significantly enhances perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning in children with ASD. These improvements were sustained at follow-up, suggesting that Sandplay Therapy is an effective and sustainable intervention for this population. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Sandplay Therapy on enhancing perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving ۳۰ children aged ۶-۱۲ years diagnosed with ASD. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=۱۵) or the control group (n=۱۵). The intervention group received eight ۹۰-minute sessions of Sandplay Therapy over two months, while the control group received standard care. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) and NEPSY-II were used to measure perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning, respectively, at baseline, post-intervention, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA with repeated measurements and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-۲۷. Descriptive statistics showed significant improvements in the intervention group for both perceptual reasoning (M=۹۵.۵۳, SD=۷.۴۸ at baseline to M=۱۰۷.۴۵, SD=۸.۲۱ post-intervention) and neuropsychological functioning (M=۸۹.۷۴, SD=۶.۹۵ at baseline to M=۱۰۱.۲۹, SD=۷.۵۶ post-intervention). Mixed-design ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time (F(۲, ۵۶)=۳۰.۱۵, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۵۲ for perceptual reasoning; F(۲, ۵۶)=۳۲.۷۵, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۵۴ for neuropsychological functioning) and group-by-time interactions (F(۲, ۵۶)=۲۴.۱۲, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۴۷ for perceptual reasoning; F(۲, ۵۶)=۲۸.۷۵, p<.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۵۰ for neuropsychological functioning). Bonferroni post-hoc tests confirmed significant differences between baseline and post-intervention (p<.۰۰۱) and baseline and follow-up (p<.۰۰۱) for the intervention group. Sandplay Therapy significantly enhances perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning in children with ASD. These improvements were sustained at follow-up, suggesting that Sandplay Therapy is an effective and sustainable intervention for this population.

کلیدواژه ها:

Autism Spectrum Disorder ، Sandplay Therapy ، Perceptual Reasoning ، Neuropsychological Functioning ، Cognitive Development ، Non-Verbal Therapy