The effect of gluten-free diet in combination with movement training on motor, social and academic skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder

This study was conducted to examine the effects of gluten-free diet with movement training on motor, social, and academic skills in individuals with autism and spectrum disorders. In order to collect data in the study, the performance determination form for individuals with intellectual disabilities prepared by the Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Special Education, Guidance and Counseling Services (2009) was used to determine their educational performance in the measurements of physical fitness parameters. The population of the study consisted of children between the ages of 10 and 20 who were diagnosed with autism and spectrum disorders who received education in GAZİANTEP AUTISM FOUNDATION affiliated to the Regional Directorate of Foundations in Şahinbey district of Gaziantep province. SPSS 22.0 program was used for statistical procedures. After normality and homogeneity tests, t-test in dependent groups, one-way analysis of variance for repeated measures and LSD correction test were performed for the differences between the pre-post tests. Values were presented as minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation and analyzed at 0.05 significance level. According to the statistical analysis, significant differences were found between the groups in matching skills, imitation skills, instruction following skills, use of visual support, receptive language skills, expressive language skills, play music skills, motor skills, social skills skills (p<0.05). As a result, it can be said that gluten-free diet to be applied together with physical training has positive effects on motoric, social and academic skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.