Summary

Eligibility
for people ages 8-12 (full criteria)
Location
at Los Angeles, California
Dates
study started
completion around
Principal Investigator
by Rujuta B Wilson, MD

Description

Summary

Motor impairments are prominent in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopment disorders, and these impairments often impact the individual's ability to engage in organized physical activity programs (OPA). While many studies have identified dance and creative movement to be retrospectively and anecdotally therapeutic, there remains a paucity of literature regarding outcomes associated with these programs, and specifically, their impact on (1) perceived and objective gross and fine motor skills, (2) perceived ability to succeed in related or divergent goals or tasks, (3) quality of life for affected individuals and their caregivers. (4) adaptive function and socialization, (5) social communication

This study explores the impact of organized dance and creative movement classes on children with autism (ages 8-12) and their caregivers. Participants will complete a set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the above metrics (labeled 1, 2, and 3) at their first study visit. This initial assessment is expected to take place within two weeks prior to beginning the intervention (either a wait period or a series of 1-hour dance classes, which children will attend weekly for 10 weeks). The second and final study visit will consist of a similar set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the same metrics within the two weeks following completion of the dance class series. Participants who have completed the wait period at this point will then begin their set of 10 weekly dance classes. Expected duration of participation in the study is no longer than 14 weeks in total.

Official Title

Dance for Children With Autism: a Therapeutic Intervention to Improve Motor Ability, Quality of Life, Social Communication, Perceived Physical Competence, and Self-efficacy

Details

Motor impairments are prominent in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopment disorders, and these impairments often impact the individual's ability to engage in organized physical activity programs (OPA). While many studies have identified dance and creative movement to be retrospectively and anecdotally therapeutic, there remains a paucity of literature regarding outcomes associated with these programs, and specifically, their impact on (1) perceived and objective gross and fine motor skills, (2) perceived ability to succeed in related or divergent goals or tasks, (3) quality of life for affected individuals and their caregivers, (4) Adaptive function and socialization, (5) social communication.

This study explores the impact of organized dance and creative movement classes on children with autism (ages 8-12) and their caregivers. Participants will complete a set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the above metrics (labeled 1, 2,3, 4, 5) at their first study visit. This initial assessment is expected to take place within two weeks prior to beginning the intervention (either a wait period or a series of 1-hour dance classes, which children will attend weekly for 10 weeks). The second and final study visit will consist of a similar set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the same metrics within the two weeks following completion of the dance class series. Participants who have completed the wait period at this point will then begin their set of 10 weekly dance classes.

Keywords

Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Dance

Eligibility

You can join if…

Open to people ages 8-12

  • There are no inclusion criteria based on gender, pregnancy/childbearing potential, race, ethnicity, or language spoken
  • Children must be between the ages of 8 to 12
  • A diagnosis of a autism
  • Complex speech/fully verbal

You CAN'T join if...

  • Children younger than 8 years of age
  • Children older than 12 years of age
  • Children without a diagnosis of autism
  • Children who are not fully verbal (i.e. phrased speech, single words, or non-speaking)
  • Children who have previously participated in dance classes held by the Dance program called the Expressive Movement Initiative

Location

  • UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine accepting new patients
    Los Angeles California 90095 United States

Lead Scientist at UCLA

  • Rujuta B Wilson, MD
    Assistant Professor-in-residence, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Medicine. Authored (or co-authored) 18 research publications

Details

Status
accepting new patients
Start Date
Completion Date
(estimated)
Sponsor
University of California, Los Angeles
ID
NCT04762290
Study Type
Interventional
Participants
Expecting 40 study participants
Last Updated