Floor Time Play with a child with autism: A single-subject study

Background. Children with autism exhibit difficulties with social interaction and communication skills, and they present with restricted interests and stereotyped patterns of behaviour that affect their daily lives. Floor time play (FTP) is an intervention approach that addresses these issues; however, there are few published studies on its effectiveness. Purpose. This study determines the effectiveness of FTP intervention with a child diagnosed with autism. Methods. A single subject AB design was used with circles of communication as the behaviour indicator for improvement. Visual and statistical analyses were completed. The child's mother kept a daily journal describing FTP intervention sessions at home. Findings. Despite variability in the data, statistical analyses indicate a significant difference between the numbers of circles of communication during the intervention phase as compared with the observation phase. Implications. This study provides preliminary evidence for the use of the FTP approach with a child with autism.