Assisted Robots in Therapies for Children with Autism in Early Childhood.

This research looked at whether robots can help children with autism (up to age 10) with their social skills, communication, and thinking flexibility. The researchers reviewed 9 studies and found that robots generally helped improve children's behaviour in the short term. However, they noted that more long-term research is needed to know if these improvements last over time.

This systematic review examined the effectiveness of robotic systems in treating children with autism spectrum disorder up to age 10. Researchers searched multiple databases and identified 578 papers, ultimately selecting 9 studies that met quality criteria (PEDRo scores 4-6). The review focused on how robots address core autism challenges including social relationships, communication, and cognitive flexibility. Results indicate that robotic interventions generally improve children's behaviour in the short term.

However, the authors emphasize that longer-term studies are needed to draw more definitive conclusions about sustained benefits and effectiveness.

Robotic interventions show promise for short-term behavioural improvements in young children with autism. However, clinicians should consider this as an adjunct therapy pending longer-term effectiveness data. More rigorous research is needed before widespread clinical implementation.

Small number of studies meeting quality criteria (9 out of 578). Limited to children up to 10 years old. Short-term outcomes only - longer-term effectiveness unknown. Quality scores were modest (4-6 on PEDRo scale).

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have deficits that affect their social relationships, communication, and flexibility in reasoning. There are different types of treatment (pharmacological, educational, psychological, and rehabilitative). Currently, one way to address this problem is by using robotic systems to address the abilities that are altered in these children. The aim of this review will be to analyse the effectiveness of the incorporation of the different robotic systems currently existing in the treatment of children up to 10 years of age diagnosed with autism.

A systematic review has been carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Dialnet databases, with the following descriptors: child, autism, and robot. The search yielded 578 papers, and nine were selected after the application of the PRISMA guideline. The quality of the studies was analysed with the PEDRo scale, and only those with a score between four and six were selected. From this study, the conclusion is that the use of robots, in general, improves children's behaviour in the short term, but longer-term experiences are necessary to achieve more conclusive results.