ADAPT: Approach to Dance for Autism
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Summary
It is well documented that motor impairments are associated with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, appropriate therapies are scarce. Dance has been shown to not only promote fine and gross motor skills, but also psychological well-being, cognition, and social participation in neurotypical dancers. Little research has been conducted to gauge if these benefits translate to those with ASD. Ballet for all Kids (BFAK) is a recreational dance program that has been teaching ballet to children with ASD for over a decade, but has yet to be empirically studied. This study expands on the goals of former STUDY 24-00144, Approach to Dance for Autism (ADAPT), NCT06424366, to elucidate the impact of participation in a recreational dance program on children with ASD.
Description
The researchers aim to expand upon the pilot randomized trial (STUDY-24-00144) using BFAK's curriculum and structure to elucidate the impact of a recreational ballet program on the motor function and psychological, social, and behavioral skills of children with ASD. For the primary objective, the researchers hypothesize that after 12 weeks of participation in BFAK, children with ASD will improve their motor function. For the secondary objectives, the researchers hypothesize that after 12 weeks of participation in BFAK, children with ASD will improve their behavior and mood. This is a single si…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 6–12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * 6-12 years age * understand English or Spanish * Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis * not currently taking ballet class Exclusion Criteria: \- none
Interventions
- BehavioralBallet Class
Participants will attend weekly ballet classes following either Level 1 or Level 2 Ballet For All Kids (BFAK) curriculum.
Location
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew York, New York