Análise da rotina e do desempenho ocupacional de crianças com transtorno do espectro autista

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder, with symptoms appearing in early childhood and is characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, activity and interest (APA, 2014). Based on the principle of repetitive behaviors, autistic children tend to follow a rigid routine (Brasil, 2015). Thus, it should be noted that routine is characterized by a pattern of behavior, it would be the organization of daily life, that is, the delimitation of each daily activity for execution (Cancella, 2019). Objectives: To understand the main caregiver's perception of the routine of children with ASD and its influence on their occupational performance. Methods: This is a descriptive study carried out at the Instituto dos Cegos da Paraíba Adalgisa Cunha in the city of João Pessoa - PB, in the intellectual disability sector. The following collection instruments were used: the Brazilian Economic Classification Criterion - CCEB of the Brazilian Association of Research Companies, a semi-structured interview and the PEDI-CAT. The qualitative descriptive approach with Laurence Bardin's content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The study consisted of 4 families, 4 mothers and 5 children. Of the 5 children in the study, only 1 did not follow a routine and did not show any delay in occupational performance in the domains analyzed by the PEDI-CAT. The discourse of these women pointed to 3 categories of analysis: 1- Repetition of daily activities as a routine; 2- Maternal perception of routine as an ally for occupational performance; 3- Absence of Occupational Therapy assistance. Conclusion: Of the 5 children investigated, 4 have delayed occupational performance and a structured routine seems to have no influence on the occupational performance of the children with ASD in this sample.