Can LEGO® robotics therapy improve the mental health and social skills of adolescents on the autism spectrum? A Phase 1 trial

Project Details

Funding partner

Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation

Timeframe

January 2020 - December 2022

Publications

Journal articles and reports will be published. A Training Manual will also be published to support school staff, interested students on the spectrum and families who might be interested in implementing the LEGO® robotics therapy at their school, home or in the community.

Team

DCI researchers

Associate Professor Pammi Raghavendra (lead)
Rowena Petticrew
Emma Heinz
Bernadette Elasi
Ella Romeo

Flinders University researchers

Associate Professor Belinda Lange
Dr David Hobbs

Research partners

Griffiths University – Associate Professor David Trembath
Autism SA - Niki Welz

Summary

The primary aim of this Phase 1 clinical trial is to investigate whether LEGO® robotics therapy can reduce anxiety and increase social skills and school engagement in autistic adolescents aged 13-16 years. The second aim is to measure the utility, acceptance, and engagement of LEGO® robotics with this cohort, while the third aim is to formally gather the views and perceptions of the intervention from all stakeholders (adolescents on the spectrum, parents, teachers, and LEGO® therapist/facilitators). The fourth and final aim is to develop a training manual for school staff and parents to support autistic adolescents. The manual would support the reach, generalisation and longevity of the LEGO® robotics therapy program across educational, clinical, home and community settings.

Impact

The findings will provide emerging evidence in the effectiveness and further development of LEGO® robotics therapy with autistic adolescents. The training manual will be critical for setting up a Randomised Control Trial in the future. This direct output will have both immediate benefit for families, teachers and clinicians who might want to implement LEGO® robotics therapy with adolescents on the spectrum and longer-term use to inform service-wide evaluation.

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