Effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Program and Visual Motor Program on Vestibular functioniong and postural control in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Vestibular dysfunction is a commonly observed yet under-addressed feature in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), manifesting as poor postural control, impaired balance, gaze instability, and motor incoordination. Both Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Program (VRTP) and Visual Motor Program (VMP) are employed clinically to address these deficits; however, no direct comparative evidence exists for this population.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of the Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Program and the Visual Motor Program in improving vestibular functioning and postural control in children with ASD.

Methodology: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted on 30 children aged 6–12 years with moderate ASD determined by using Indian scale for Assessment of Autism, selected through purposive sampling from the OPD of Mahatma Gandhi Occupational Therapy College, Jaipur. Participants were divided into two groups of 15 each. Group A received the VRTP and Group B received the VMP, each for 30 minutes per session over 8 weeks. The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) was used as the outcome measure at baseline and post-intervention.

Results: Both groups showed statistically significant within-group improvements (p = 0.0003). The VMP group's mean PBS score improved from 25.53 ± 5.90 to 28.60 ± 6.64 (mean difference: 3.07), while the VRTP group improved from 28.07 ± 6.51 to 29.60 ± 6.47 (mean difference: 1.53). Between-group comparison revealed no statistically significant difference in post-intervention PBS scores (t = 0.42, p = 0.679).

Conclusion: Both interventions significantly improved vestibular functioning in children with moderate ASD, with comparable final outcomes. Either program may serve as a viable therapeutic choice, with selection guided by the child's individual profile and clinical context.