O efeito do uso de jogos com estímulos individualizados no engajamento de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo

Abstract

According to the DSM-5-TR, Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed by persistent deficits in sociability and communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The objective of this study stems from aligning these behavioral patterns of restricted and repetitive interests, difficulties in sociability, social interaction, engagement in activities of no interest, and prior knowledge of the literature, suggesting the use of games and playful activities as a facilitator of interaction and engagement of children with ASD with their peers and the researcher. Thus, the study investigated the engagement of children with ASD in an activity designed according to their particular interests compared to the same game with a generic theme. Three children diagnosed with ASD, aged 4 to 5 years, attending the Colégio de Aplicação of UFSCar, participated in the research. The data collection methodology was designed in six stages: preference assessment, pre-test, neutral game, probe 1, specific game, and probe 2. The first stage defined less preferred and more preferred stimuli. The figures were used to assemble the picture matching album games, while the pre-test and probes assessed numbering, reading, and word identification. The stages were recorded and compared for each participant, evaluating the evolution of the aforementioned skills and interactions with the researcher, material, and verbal-vocal responses. The results demonstrated that adapting the material through specific stimuli for each child positively impacts their engagement, bonding, and sociability.