Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence–Based Platform in Administering Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: 12-Month Observational Study
Background: A 12-month longitudinal observational study was conducted on 43 children aged 2-18 years to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cognitivebotics AI-based platform in conjunction with continuous therapy, in improving therapeutic outcomes for subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Objective: This study evaluates the Cognitivebotic software’s effectiveness in supporting children with ASD through structured, technology-assisted learning. The primary objectives include assessing user engagement, tracking progress, and measuring efficacy using standardized clinical assessments. Methods: A 12-month observational study was conducted on children diagnosed with ASD using the Cognitivebotics AI-based platform. Standardized assessments, include the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS), Developmental Screening Test (DST), and Receptive Expressive Emergent Language Test (REEL), at baseline (T1) and at the endpoint (T2). All participants meeting the inclusion criteria were provided access to the platform and received standard therapy. Participants who consistently adhered to platform use as per the study protocol were classified as the intervention group, while those who did not maintain continuous platform use were designated as the control group. Additionally, caregivers received structured training, including online parent teaching sessions, reinforcement strategy training, and home-based activity guidance. Results: Subjects in the intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements across multiple scales. CARS scores reduced from 33.41 ± 1.89 at T1 to 28.34 ± 3.80 at T2 (P < .00001). Social Age (SA) increased from 22.80 ± 7.33 to 35.76 ± 9.09 (mean change: 12.96, 56.84% increase, P < .00001). Social Quotient increased from 53.26 ± 11.84 to 64.75 ± 16.12 (mean change: 11.49, 21.57% increase, P < .00001). Developmental Age (DA) showed an improvement from 30.93 ± 9.91 to 45.31 ± 11.20 (mean change: 14.38, 46.49% increase, P < .00001), while Developmental Quotient increased (DQ) from 70.94 ± 10.95 to 81.33 ± 16.85 (mean change: 10.39, 14.65% increase, P < .00001). REEL scores showed substantial improvements, with receptive language increasing by 56.22% ( P < .00001) and expressive language by 59.93% ( P < 0.00001). In the control group, while most psychometric parameters showed some improvements, they were not statistically significant. CARS scores decreased by 10.62% ( P = .0625), SA increased by 52.27% ( P = .0625), SQ increased by 19.62% ( P = .125), DA increased by 44.88% ( P = .0625), and DQ increased by 11.23% ( P = .1875). REEL receptive and expressive language increased by 34.69% ( P = .10035) and 40.48% ( P = .05447), respectively. Conclusions: Overall, the platform was an effective supplement in enhancing therapeutic outcomes for children with ASD. This platform holds promise as a valuable tool for augmenting ASD therapies across cognitive, social, and developmental domains. Future development should prioritize expanding the product's accessibility across various languages, ensuring cultural sensitivity, and enhancing user-friendliness.
