Occupational Therapy Interventions Using New Technologies in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Jan;53(1):332-358. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05431-3. Epub 2022 Jan 20.

Abstract

New technologies (NT) are increasingly used in Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We conducted a scoping review to describe OT interventions investigated in scientific literature which use NT in children and adolescents with ASD. Two authors independently searched the scientific databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science, carried out a peer-review screening of articles and extracted data. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. OT interventions lasted between 1 week and 12 months, consisted of between 1 session per day and 5 sessions per week, were carried out exclusively by an occupational therapist, and the most used NT was the computer (n = 12). The duration of the interventions and assessment measures used varied greatly between studies.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Computer; New technologies; Occupational therapy; Rehabilitation; iPad.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / therapy
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Occupational Therapy*