Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04762290

Dance for Children With Autism

Motor impairments are prominent in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopment disorders, and these impairments often impact the individual's ability to engage in organized physical activity programs (OPA). While many studies have identified dance and creative movement to be retrospectively and anecdotally therapeutic, there remains a paucity of literature regarding outcomes associated with these programs, and specifically, their impact on (1) perceived and objective gross and fine motor skills, (2) perceived ability to succeed in related or divergent goals or tasks, (3) quality of life for affected individuals and their caregivers. (4) adaptive function and socialization, (5) social communication

This study explores the impact of organized dance and creative movement classes on children with autism (ages 8-12) and their caregivers. Participants will complete a set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the above metrics (labeled 1, 2, and 3) at their first study visit. This initial assessment is expected to take place within two weeks prior to beginning the intervention (either a wait period or a series of 1-hour dance classes, which children will attend weekly for 10 weeks). The second and final study visit will consist of a similar set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the same metrics within the two weeks following completion of the dance class series. Participants who have completed the wait period at this point will then begin their set of 10 weekly dance classes. Expected duration of participation in the study is no longer than 14 weeks in total.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Neurodevelopmental Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

8 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

About this study

Motor impairments are prominent in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopment disorders, and these impairments often impact the individual's ability to engage in organized physical activity programs (OPA). While many studies have identified dance and creative movement to be retrospectively and anecdotally therapeutic, there remains a paucity of literature regarding outcomes associated with these programs, and specifically, their impact on (1) perceived and objective gross and fine motor skills, (2) perceived ability to succeed in related or divergent goals or tasks, (3) quality of life for affected individuals and their caregivers, (4) Adaptive function and socialization, (5) social communication.

This study explores the impact of organized dance and creative movement classes on children with autism (ages 8-12) and their caregivers. Participants will complete a set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the above metrics (labeled 1, 2,3, 4, 5) at their first study visit. This initial assessment is expected to take place within two weeks prior to beginning the intervention (either a wait period or a series of 1-hour dance classes, which children will attend weekly for 10 weeks). The second and final study visit will consist of a similar set of surveys and assessments designed to measure the same metrics within the two weeks following completion of the dance class series. Participants who have completed the wait period at this point will then begin their set of 10 weekly dance classes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • There are no inclusion criteria based on gender, pregnancy/childbearing potential, race, ethnicity, or language spoken
  • Children must be between the ages of 8 to 12
  • A diagnosis of a autism
  • Complex speech/fully verbal

Exclusion criteria

  • Children younger than 8 years of age
  • Children older than 12 years of age
  • Children without a diagnosis of autism
  • Children who are not fully verbal (i.e. phrased speech, single words, or non-speaking)
  • Children who have previously participated in dance classes held by the Dance program called the Expressive Movement Initiative

Treatment and study plan

Dance

Other

The intervention is a series of expressive dance movements.

Other names: expressive movement

Primary outcomes

  1. Movement Assessment Battery for Children Checklist

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Motor questionnaire. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome

  2. Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale

    Time frame: 45 minutes

    A measure of adaptive behavior and motor skills. The minimum value is 21 and maximum value is 140. Higher scores indicate a better outcome.

  3. Perceived Motor Competence Scale Parent Report

    Time frame: 5 minutes

    A measure of perceived motor skills in the child. Higher scores indicate a better outcome. Scores are based on a likert scale of 1-4. The minimum score is 18 and the maximum score is 72.

  4. Perceived Motor Competence Scale Child Report

    Time frame: 5 minutes

    A measure of perceived motor skills in the child (participant). Higher scores indicate a better outcome. The minimum score is 13 and the maximum score is 52.

  5. Brief Observation of Social Communication Change

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    A videotaped observational coding of a child's social communication behavior.

  6. Parenting Stress Scale

    Time frame: 5 minutes

    Measure of factors related to caregiver stress

  7. Lifespan Self-Esteem Scale

    Time frame: 2 minutes

    Measure of self-esteem/self-confidence

  8. Autism Impact Measure

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Measure of child's behaviors and the degree of impact on everyday functioning

  9. Quantitative Gait Assessment

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Direct motor measure in which the child walks across a mat with embedded sensors. The mat used in this study is the Zeno Walkway Gait Analysis System. This assessment includes self-regulated walking, fast walking, and standing balance.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Social responsiveness scale

    Time frame: 15 minutes

    A measure of social communication and autism traits. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome. A total T-score of 76 or higher is considered severe and strongly associated with a clinical diagnosis of Autistic Disorder. T-scores of 66 through 75 are interpreted as indicating Moderate deficiencies in reciprocal social behavior that are clinically significant and lead to substantial interference in everyday social interactions. T-scores of 60 to 65 are in the Mild range and indicate mild to moderate deficits in social interaction.T scores of 59 and below are considered to be within typical limits and generally not associated with clinically significant ASD

  2. Survey for adults

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Measure of child's physical activity levels and engagement

  3. Survey for children

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    measure of self physical activity levels and engagement

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Other

Collaborators

  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Registry information

Official study title

Dance for Children With Autism: a Therapeutic Intervention to Improve Motor Ability, Quality of Life, Social Communication, Perceived Physical Competence, and Self-efficacy

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Feb 21, 2021
Registry last updated
Apr 16, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.