The impact of dynamic seating on classroom behavior of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Single subject study

Children with autism have sitting and on-task behavior problems in classroom. Sitting on ball and cushion may increase this classroom behavior. The present investigation was conducted to study the effects of three alternative classroom-seating devices such as regular classroom chairs, therapy balls, and air cushions on students’ classroom behavior.
A total of 15 autistic students aged 5-12 years old participated in the present single subject design A-B-A-C multiple treatments in Mashhad from 1392 to 1393. Students’ behaviors were video recorded in three phases: sitting on their common chairs (baseline period) during phase A, air-sit cushions in phase B, and ball chairs in phase C. Sitting frequency and on-task behaviors were quantified and compared in different phases during eight weeks.
Findings showed significant increases in in-seat behaviors in 86.7% of the students (P While using therapy ball improved class behavior of the students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the class, the use of ball and air cushion should be chosen individually according to the patient’s response to the sitting device.