Can playful therapy unlock social skills in autism?

This study tests whether adding DIR/Floortime—a child-led, relationship-based therapy—to standard care helps children aged 4-12 with mild-to-moderate autism improve emotional, social, communication, and daily living skills. Half the children receive the 10-week Floortime program plus their usual therapies, while the other half continues with standard care alone. Researchers measure changes using the Functional Emotional Assessment Scale and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales to see if the integrated approach makes a meaningful difference.