A Technology-Based Intervention for Enhancing Cognitive Flexibility in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Cognitive flexibility is the most impaired executive function among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Technology-mediated executive function training has several benefits for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of our study was to test the effectiveness of a digital intervention program to reduce errors in cognitive flexibility tasks in children ASD. To achieve our goal, we conducted a single-case experiment involving 3 participants with ASD aged between 9 and 14 years old. We used single-case experiment with alternative treatments to see if there are differences in cognitive flexibility when training was with or without technological tools. Based on the results, there was a decrease in the number of errors in both the technology-free and technology-based interventions, with no significant evidence of one intervention being more effective than the other. Future studies should include larger samples and increased number of intervention sessions.