9^th European Epidemiology and Public Health Congress

Biography

Biography: Valdis Folkmanis

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) describes a social communication deficit and repetitive sensory-motor behaviours. Children with ASD have difficulties in socio-emotional reciprocity, verbal communicative behaviours and in developing and understanding relationships. Recently, a growing evidence on positive effect of different kinds of interventions for children with ASD, including Montessori therapy, appeared in scientific journals. Despite of a growing number of performed studies, the effect of Montessori therapy in the case of ASD is not fully proven. The aim of the current study was to compare a progress in psychomotor function between children with ASD attended Montessori therapy and those that did not attend any therapy.

Methodology: The study sample consisted of children 2 – 5 years old that attended the Children Clinical University Hospital and the Social Paediatrics Centre of the University of Latvia at 2013-2015. All children were diagnosed for presence of ASD by psychiatrist using the Denver functional test. After the initial assessment, children were randomly divided into those participated in Montessori therapy or those did not receive therapy. The final assessment was performed using the Denver functional test 6 - 8 months after the baseline examination. Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, compliance of development to age norms, and initial diagnosis of a child were built for the association between attendance the Montessori therapy and improvement of psychomotor functions. 

Conclusion & Significance: Attending Montessori therapy is preferable for children to improve their psychomotor function. We propose to attend therapies/developmental activities not only to children with ASD, but for healthy children as well.