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A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Interventions to Improve Play Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience difficulty with play, and a number of different interventions have been developed and evaluated to address this deficit. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials identified 19 studies reporting on play-based interventions for children with ASD aged 2–12 years. The components of each study, including elements of the interventions and methodological quality, were examined. A meta-analysis was completed for 11 studies, and a small but significant treatment effect was identified (Hedges’ g = 0.439). The current review supports future development of interventions with a focus on the child with ASD across social environments. Outcome measures and comprehensive reporting of intervention components are important considerations in future intervention development and testing. Significance for clinicians and future research is discussed. PROSPERO registration number: RD42015026263.

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References of Included Studies in Systematic Review

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Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship in supporting this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, USA

    Cally Kent & Reinie Cordier

  2. Department of Special Needs Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Reinie Cordier & Renée Speyer

  3. School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Annette Joosten

  4. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Sarah Wilkes-Gillan & Anita Bundy

  5. Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Anita Bundy

  6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Renée Speyer

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  1. Cally Kent
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  2. Reinie Cordier
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Correspondence to Cally Kent.

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Kent, C., Cordier, R., Joosten, A. et al. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Interventions to Improve Play Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 7, 91–118 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-019-00181-y

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