ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of therapy ball on behavior problems and seating behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder in a classroom setting. Methods : The subjects of the study were three male participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who were attending a special education class in kindergarten. Single-subject A-B-A-B experimental design was used. The study was conducted in the preschool setting with children during daily language class. During baseline and withdrawal (A phase) participants used their typical classroom seating device (chair). During the intervention (B phase) participants sat on therapy balls. The experiment consisted of 23 sessions and the total duration was 5 weeks. Dependent variables were percentage of behavior problems, attention,and seating behavior. Data were graphed and visually analyzed for differences between phases. Results : The participants showed substantial improvement in attention and seating behavior when seated on therapy balls, and percentage of behavior problems was decreased. Conclusion : In conclusion, this study provides evidence that the use of therapy ball in the classroom setting may decrease behavior problems and facilitate attention and seating behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders.