The effectiveness of virtual sensory rehabilitation (Tele rehabilitation) in the family environment on reducing stereotyped and impulsive behaviors of autistic children during the coronavirus pandemic

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of virtual sensory rehabilitation (Tele rehabilitation) in the home environment on reducing stereotyped and impulsive behaviors of autistic children during the coronavirus pandemic. The research method for data collection was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design with control group. The statistical population included all families of children with autism at the Autism Center of Tehran on 2020. Out of the total population, 16 families with autistic children who were in home quarantine were selected as a sample and randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups. The Budfish (2000) scale was used to collect data. Analysis of covariance with application assumptions was used to analyze the data. The rehabilitation program of sensorimotor exercises was performed in 21 consecutive sessions in four months for the experimental group. The results showed that the tele rehabilitation program significantly improved the challenging behaviors of autistic children in the family environment at the level of P <0.01, due to the vulnerability of autistic children to the corona virus and the closure of rehabilitation centers and to prevent regression and exacerbation. Behaviors of autistic children and also due to the effectiveness of the tele rehabilitation program, the use of this program at home is recommended, of course, with all the points of professional rehabilitation.