EFFECTIVE USE OF A DRIVING SIMULATOR AS AN INTERVENTION TOOL FOR ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Lea Taylor Meeks (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the interactive driving simulator as an intervention tool for adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Method: Using two interactive driving simulators , a pre-test/post-test design was used to assess driving performance on three types of driving scenarios. Fourteen participants with autism spectrum disorder , nine of which participated in the driving intervention in the context of a summer-intensive driving boot camp and five of which participated only in the driving intervention , completed the intervention on the driving simulator. Intervention sessions targeted 10 critical skills: use of turn signals , stop signs , traffic signals , avoidance of hazards , lane maintenance , lane changes , right and left turns , speed maintenance , hazard identification , and navigation. Pre-test and post-test driving assessments were scored using P-Drive , a standardized observational driving evaluation tool. The simulator output data was also used for one simulator. Results: Simulator output data revealed a highly statistically significant difference for minimum distance to collision for vehicle backing onto roadway (p<0.001) before and after adjusting for outliers. A few others were below the nominal 5% level , but these would not be significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. The P-Drive mean total scores demonstrated significant differences between pre-test and post-test among the participants for all three driving scenarios. Conclusion: Although a small sample size , there were limited significant differences for measures on the simulator output data , suggesting simulator output may not be sensitive enough to measure overall driving performance in this population. However , majority of the data shows positive improvements in participant driving performance from pre- to post-test. The difference in mean P-Drive total scores demonstrated a statistically and clinically significant difference from pre- to post-test on Road Test Version 2 (p<0.001; 95% CI [-31.13 , -15.64]) , Town & Country (p<0.001; 95% CI [-33.86 , -15.97]) , and Residential & Suburban (p=0.001; 95% CI [-33.37 , -12.00]) driving scenarios. These results demonstrate an overall increase in mean scores on the P-Drive from pre- to post-test , which suggests improved overall driving performance. These results , with observations during sessions , suggest that the driving simulator can be an effective intervention tool for improving driving knowledge , skills , and abilities in adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2017

Keywords

driving simulator, occupational therapy

Subjects

Email this document to