EFFECTS OF MULTI-SENSORY ENVIRONMENT ON ADULTS WITH AUTISM WHO EXPERIENCE REPETITIVE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with a wide range of characteristics including challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, language and nonverbal communication. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether engagement in multi-sensory environments (MSE) decreases repetitive behaviors in adults with ASD. The study included three adults diagnosed with an intellectual disability and ASD who demonstrate repetitive patterns of behavior. A single-subject ABA withdrawal design was used to examine the effect of the MSE intervention on repetitive behaviors. There were no conclusive findings related to the effectiveness of this approach on behaviors; each participant responded in a different way to the intervention. This study addresses some of the implications and uses of MSEs as an intervention for adults with ASD who experience repetitive patterns of behavior in recreational therapy practice.