Approach to Dance for Autism
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Ballet for All Kids
- Registration Number
- NCT06424366
- Lead Sponsor
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Brief Summary
This study will be a randomized trial that will examine the impact of a recreational ballet program on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research team are primarily interested in assessing changes in motor skills with secondary objectives focused on the social, psychological, and behavioral effects. The study will aim to collect data from 24 participants with ASD. Participants must be 7-12 years old, have a confirmed diagnosis of ASD, and speak English or Spanish. All participants will be enrolled in a 12 week ballet program. The ballet program is based off the curriculum and structure of Ballet for All Kids, a non-profit organization that has been tailoring ballet classes for children with ASD for over one decade. All research team members and volunteers will be trained in the BFAK program's curriculum and structure. Ballet instruction and all research materials will be provided in both English and Spanish. The research team will randomize the sample into an intervention group and waitlist control. The research team will measure outcomes through validated self-reports that caregivers will complete. For the intervention group, questionnaires will be completed at baseline and throughout the intervention (weeks 4, 8, and 12). For those in the waitlist control group, questionnaires will be completed at baseline, throughout the intervention group's ballet classes, and throughout their own participation in the program. Results of this study will help to determine if how a recreational ballet program can impact the motor, psychological, social, and behavioral skills of a child with ASD, informing the direction of future research and interventions.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 24
- Confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
- Fluent in English or Spanish
- Between 7-12 years old
- For any reason the individual appears unable to participate in study procedures per the Principal Investigator
- Not fluent in English or Spanish
- Unable to commit to at least 8 of the 12 scheduled intervention sessions
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Immediate Ballet Program Ballet for All Kids 12 weeks of ballet classes immediately after recruitment and randomization concludes. Deferred Ballet Program Ballet for All Kids 12 weeks of ballet classes after the first arm completes the intervention. Participants in this arm will continue to complete self-reports while they wait to begin the intervention.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Development Coordination Disorder Questionnaire at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 Development Coordination Disorder Questionnaire will be completed by caregivers and will assess participants' motor skills throughout the study. Minimum score= 15. Maximum score= 75. A higher score indicates more advanced motor skills.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Aberrant Behavior Checklist at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 The Aberrant Behavior Checklist will be completed by caregivers and will assess participants' behaviors such as irritability; lethargy; stereotypy; hyperactivity; and inappropriate speech. Minimum score= 0. Maximum score= 174. A higher score indicates a greater degree of that behavior (i.e. higher scores on irritability would indicate that child tends to be more irritable).
Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (Abbreviated) at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire will be completed by caregivers and will assess participants' sleep throughout the study. Minimum score = 0. Maximum score = 154. A higher score indicates more sleep disturbances.
The Repetitive Behavior Scale at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 The Repetitive Behavior Scale will be completed by caregivers and will assess participants' repetitive behaviors and restricted interests throughout the study. Minimum score = 0. Maximum score = 129. A higher score indicates more severe behaviors.
Caregiver Strain Questionnaire at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 The Caregiver Strain Questionnaire will be completed by caregivers and will assess caregivers' stress related to parental/familial responsibilities throughout the study. Minimum score = 21. Maximum score = 105. A higher score indicates that a caregiver experiences more distress due to their familial responsibilities.
Social Responsiveness Scale 2 at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 The Social Responsiveness Scale 2 will be completed by caregivers and will assess participants' social behaviors throughout the study. Minimum raw score = 65. Maximum raw score = 260. T-scores have a mean of 50 and a SD of 10. Raw scores are converted to T scores based on the child's gender. A higher score indicates more severe social impairments.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
🇺🇸New York, New York, United States