Examining the cognitive play skills of 36/72-month-old children with autism spectrum disorder

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship among the degree of autism, level of social interaction, vocal behavior, educational assessment and cognitive play skills of 3/6-year-old children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study group consists of 80 children with ASD and their mothers. The materials used are Adapted Autism Behavior Checklist (AABC) to determine the degree of autism of children with ASD; Cognitive Play Assessment Form (CPAF) to assess the cognitive play skills; Social Interaction Assessment Instrument (SIAI) to assess the social interaction levels; Vocal Behavior Assessment Instrument (VBAI) to assess the vocal behavior examples; and Educational Assessment Instrument (EAI) to determine the educational levels. The levels of cognitive play skills as well as the variety and frequency of plays were measured based on the results of the research. The relationship levels of play diversity and frequency and other variables were analyzed with the SPSS program. As a result of the analysis, with the frequency averages in cognitive play time; A negative relationship was found between U-ODKL, a positive relationship between SEDA, a negative relationship between EDA and VODA, and a statistically significant relationship was found. With cognitive play diversity averages; It was concluded that there was no statistically significant relationship between the U-ODKL, a negative and statistically significant relationship was found between the SEDA, and that there was no statistically significant relationship between the EDA and VODA. In future research; Children's play learning levels can be examined through coaching training given to families or siblings.