The effect of quiet eye training on the accuracy of target throwing in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder
Oral Presentation
Paper ID : 2192-SSRC
Authors
1Assistant professor in motor behavior; department of physical education and sport sciences; Yazd University
2Master in motor behavior; University of Tehran; and physical education teacher Yazd province
Abstract
Background and aim: Although autism spectrum disorder is known as a cognitive, emotional and social disorder, movement problems and defects in skillful execution of movements should also be seriously investigated and improved in these children. The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of quiet eye trainings (QET) on throwing accuracy in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder.
Methodology: This research was a semi-experimental research that was carried out in a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical sample of this study was 30 boys aged 8 to 10 years with a definitive diagnosis of high functioning autism spectrum disorder who were selected purposefully and available. According to parents' reports, their children did not have any other physical, psychological or cognitive problems. Subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 in each group). The experimental group received 9 sessions (3 weeks and 1-hour 3sessions each week) quiet eye trainings based on Vickers' 7-step protocol. After the end of the intervention sessions, both groups participated in the post-test evaluation. Luciano et al.'s test was used to evaluate targeting accuracy. In this test, there were 10 throws in a circle with scores from 0 to 100. Analysis of covariance test was used to determine the effectiveness of exercises. In order to perform all the analyses, SPSS version 21 and EXCEL-2016 software were used and the significance level of all statistical tests was considered 0.05.
Results: The findings showed that the quiet eye training had a significant effect on the accuracy of the target throwing of children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder (p<0.001). If the scores of the control group in the post-test were lower than the pre-test.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the research, the importance of visual support and providing as much visual-motor information as possible for these children in order to improve motor performance is supported. In addition, quiet eye trainings can be suggested as a non-invasive and effective intervention in improving the level of throwing skills in these children.
Methodology: This research was a semi-experimental research that was carried out in a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical sample of this study was 30 boys aged 8 to 10 years with a definitive diagnosis of high functioning autism spectrum disorder who were selected purposefully and available. According to parents' reports, their children did not have any other physical, psychological or cognitive problems. Subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 in each group). The experimental group received 9 sessions (3 weeks and 1-hour 3sessions each week) quiet eye trainings based on Vickers' 7-step protocol. After the end of the intervention sessions, both groups participated in the post-test evaluation. Luciano et al.'s test was used to evaluate targeting accuracy. In this test, there were 10 throws in a circle with scores from 0 to 100. Analysis of covariance test was used to determine the effectiveness of exercises. In order to perform all the analyses, SPSS version 21 and EXCEL-2016 software were used and the significance level of all statistical tests was considered 0.05.
Results: The findings showed that the quiet eye training had a significant effect on the accuracy of the target throwing of children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder (p<0.001). If the scores of the control group in the post-test were lower than the pre-test.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the research, the importance of visual support and providing as much visual-motor information as possible for these children in order to improve motor performance is supported. In addition, quiet eye trainings can be suggested as a non-invasive and effective intervention in improving the level of throwing skills in these children.
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