A Short Report on the Impact of Judo on Behaviors and Social Skills of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communication difficulty and social deficits. The current treatment employs the use of psychosocial therapy and medication as well as alternative treatments. This is a pilot study that assessed whether participation in judo improved behavior and social skills in children with ASD.Methods: Twenty-four students from the Riverside Youth Judo Club were included in the study, after obtaining consent from their parents to participate. Inclusion criteria included participation in judo classes for more than one month and diagnosis of ASD and/or a developmental disability. Parent(s) of the children signed a consent form, filled out a study questionnaire and completed the Social Skills Improvement System Social-Emotional Learning Edition, Parent Form (SSIS-SEL). Parents also had the opportunity to volunteer their child's baseline SSIS-SEL assessment. SSIS-SEL data was taken for four participants and compared to the baseline.Results: In the study questionnaire, 62.5% of parents agreed that their children demonstrated improvement across all six categories. The category with the greatest improvement was 'Behavior at home', while the category with the least improvement was 'Eye contact'. Conclusion: While the direct impact of judo on special needs children was difficult to assess due to variability in abilities and developmental milestones, we hope that improving awareness regarding the effectiveness of youth sports would impact the long-term quality of life for children with any developmental or mental disability and may help improve their social and behavioral skills in multiple environments.

Effects of mini-basketball training program on social communication impairments and regional homogeneity of brain functions in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder

“…Notably, our intervention had a significant positive impact on social cognition, social communication, and autistic mannerisms in these children. Previous research has shown that various movement-based interventions, such as yoga [ 46 ], martial arts [ 47 ], and judo [ 48 ], could effectively enhance social abilities and behaviors in children diagnosed with ASD. These interventions, centered around general movement, encourage participation in group activities and games, fostering self-expression, social communication, and creativity [ 49 ].…”

Social-Emotional Learning untuk Siswa Berkebutuhan Khusus di Sekolah Inklusi

“…Namun demikian, analisis dalam kelompok menunjukkan bahwa TASSEL dengan guru psikologi merupakan kombinasi terbaik dalam mengurangi intensi putus sekolah, sedangkan SEL dengan guru psikologi merupakan kombinasi terbaik dalam mengurangi kecemasan belajar. (Lockard et al, 2023) Menilai apakah partisipasi dalam judo meningkatkan perilaku dan keterampilan sosial pada anak-anak dengan ASD.…”

The Influence of Sleep Disorders on Neurobiological Structures and Cognitive Processes in Pediatric Population with ASD and Epilepsy: A Systematic Review

“…Among the comorbid disorders in the pediatric population with ASD, sleep disorders (SD) stand out, primarily manifesting as difficulties in sleep onset, maintenance, nighttime awakenings, and sleep apnea [9]. Generally, individuals with ASD have a multifactorial etiology, tend to be chronic, and have negative consequences on the patient and/or the family environment, both in their progression and quality of life [10].…”