Spatial adaptation in children with autism - A study based on behavioural dynamic video data

Children with autism show unique behavioural patterns and sensitivity to spatial elements; therefore, size and furniture arrangement at rehabilitation facilities can affect behaviour. In this study, spatial adaptation during three situations (learning, playing with toys, and finding objects) was evaluated for different spatial sizes in children with autism using video data. In particular, 330 videos of training sessions involving 15 boys with autism aged 4–6 years in spaces classified as training space (large, medium, and small) and immediate surroundings (activity areas and hallways) were evaluated. Skeletal data were acquired using AI motion capture technology and transformed into movement volume and positions using Grasshopper. Differences between children with autism in normal and aggressive states in different spaces were analyzed. The movement of volume increased in all space sizes during the aggressive state, especially in large spaces. In large spaces, the movement volume during learning was significantly larger, but object-seeking was significantly smaller in the aggressive state than in the normal state. In the immediate surrounding, the volume of movement varied significantly across behavioural states. Additionally, compared with the normal state, the movement location of children with autism in the aggressive state were more dispersed. The movement of location for learning, activity area and hallway were closer to the wall. Playing with toys and finding objects overlapped more with the furniture. This study provides a basis for the spatial adaptation of intervention services for children with autism and a reference for comparisons with current design standards.