Browsing by Author "Van Zyl, Analja"

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    A dance programme to enhance gross motor skills and body awareness of selected children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12) Van Zyl, Analja; Africa, Eileen Katherine; Springer, Priscilla; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Sport Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although over 7 decades of research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been conducted, research focusing on gross motor skills (GMS) development in these children have been neglected. However, it has been suggested that GMS may be a window for research. Recent studies indicate that creative movement is a viable form of therapy for children with ASD, as these children develop body-awareness through movement. A creative movement programme has not been conducted on South African children with ASD. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore the possible effect of a dance programme's on the GMS and body awareness of selected verbal children with ASD. The age ranges of the subjects were between 7 and 14 years old. The subjects (N=15) were selected from a LSEN school in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, South Africa. They were randomly divided into an experimental (n=7) and control group (n=8). The primary data was collected using the Quick Neurological Screening Test-3 (QNST-3) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2), pre- and post-intervention. The experimental group participated in the intervention consisting twice per week, while the control group continued with daily activities. The duration of the intervention was 16 weeks, which was between 45 and 60 minutes. The data were analysed by means of statistical analysis that was derived from the mixed model repeated measures ANOVA. The results for the QNST-3 indicated that the experimental group improved by 50% (p≤0.01). Additional improvements were concluded from the BOT-2 where the experimental group improved by 26% (p≤0.01). Both quantitative evaluations indicated that the control group’s skills deteriorated over time. It was gratifyingly concluded that a creative movement programme is beneficial for enhancing the GMS and body awareness of verbal children with ASD. Future research is required to assess the effect of the programme on nonverbal children with ASD. Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), gross motor skills, body awareness, creative movement, lower socio-economic status community, South Africa.