It is estimated that approximately 1.6% of people in the UK have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which causes difficulties with social interaction, communication, behaviour, and interests. Such difficulties often cause problems in day to day life and often result in the child feeling socially isolated.
The most common treatment for this is social skills training but while these children may learn to demonstrate appropriate social skills within the setting of the intervention, applying these new skills to their everyday life is often unsuccessful.
Researchers at Hull York Medical School, led by Professor Barry Wright, are at the forefront of research which are transforming mental health inventions for children and young people.
LEGO®-based therapy is a new approach that is specifically designed to make social interactions interesting to the child with ASD so that they will not only learn the necessary skills but adopt them in their daily lives. The main aim of this research is to examine whether LEGO®-based therapy groups in schools has any impact on the social and emotional competence and perceived social isolation of children with ASD. The research also aims to look at any changes in the mental and more general health of the child resulting from LEGO®-based therapy.
For more information about research at Hull York Medical School, visit www.hyms.ac.uk/childmentalhealthinterventions