Utilizing Delimited Occupational Therapy Model to Develop Social Skills in Children with Asperger Syndrome
Utilizing Delimited Occupational Therapy Model to Develop Social Skills in Children with Asperger Syndrome

Summary/Abstract: Asperger Syndrome is a severe developmental disorder affecting children that is marked by significant difficulties concerning social interaction as well as limited and unusual patterns of interest and behavior. The children so affected take longer to develop social skills, and require more time and repetition to attain a given level of learning. Nevertheless, every child with Asperger Syndrome is able to learn, develop, and become an active member of society, and occupational therapists are often asked to organize and implement intervention programs for the purpose of attaining these goals. Against this background, this study presents the practice of delimited occupational therapy, which resides upon theoretical concepts associated with the environment, the self, work, the interaction between these key factors, and the participation of the child in a range of occupations. Specific tools are needed to evaluate the main behavioral characteristics associated with Asperger Syndrome and identify the correlations between the behavioral patterns that a child presents and the various neurological and psychological factors that underlie them. Delimited occupational therapy emphasizes that particular neurological, psychological and behavioral intervention strategies are needed to support the performance of a child with Asperger Syndrome and promote their participation in different activities. The results of he article illustrate the positive contribution of delimited occupational therapy in promoting the development of social skills in children with Asperger Syndrome.

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