Effects of improved creative play interventions on social communication, behavioral, and cognitive function in children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit deficits in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive delays. Play-based interventions have shown effectiveness in the treatment of ASD. This study aims to investigate the impact of improved creative play interventions combined with routine rehabilitation on these domains in autistic children. Methods: = 36; routine rehabilitation + improved creative play intervention). Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention (week 12) using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale-2 (CARS-2), Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), and the Chinese version of Psychoeducational Profile-3 (C-PEP-3) to measure changes in social skills, behavior, and cognitive functioning. Results: < 0.001). Conclusion: The improved creative play intervention combined with routine rehabilitation significantly enhances social, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes in ASD children.