Review of assistive technology in the training of children with autism spectrum disorders

The use of socially assistive robotics (SARs) is a promising method for improving the social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies conducted in this field in recent years show that the use of robots as collaborators may have positive effects on the development of social skills in children with ASD, especially in those areas where they reveal great deficits. In this literature review, we present, organize and evaluate the most important features and results of 13 relevant scientific articles. In analysis of the research findings we explored the documented effectiveness of robotics in enhancing the social skills of children with ASD in the areas of mutual attention, verbal communication and imitation skills, and also in the reduction of stereotypical behavior. Analysis of the results of the 13 studies confirmed that robots can have positive immediate effects on the communication skills of children with ASD, which holds promise for future intervention programs and relevant research.

Automated summary

The use of socially assistive robots (SARs) has shown promise in improving the social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent studies have demonstrated that robots as collaborators can positively impact the development of social skills in children with ASD, particularly in areas where they display significant deficits. This literature review presents, organizes, and evaluates the key features and findings of 13 relevant scientific articles. Analysis of these studies confirms that robots can have immediate positive effects on communication skills of children with ASD, suggesting potential for future intervention programs and research.