The importance of fine art therapy intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A literature review

Abstract

With the rising global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the search for effective therapeutic interventions has become increasingly essential. While traditional pharmacological treatments can be effective, they often carry potential side effects for individuals with ASD. This has positioned fine art therapy as a promising non-pharmacological alternative for alleviating symptoms and enhancing non-verbal communication skills, social skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, affective regulation, and behavioral disorders. 

This study aims to explore the significance of fine art therapy intervention, evaluate and synthesize existing evidence on its effectiveness and applicability in treating children with ASD, and identify best practices and key areas for future research. The study reviewed academic and practice-based sources through database searches, including the Saudi Digital Library, Google Scholar, RefSeek, and ProQuest. A total of 42 studies and articles were analyzed. 

The findings indicate that fine art therapy has a significant impact on symptom reduction and improvements in non-verbal communication, social skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, affective regulation, and behavioral disorders in children with ASD. The intervention was highly regarded by participants, with the majority recognizing its adaptability across educational and medical settings. The study also concludes that art therapy interventions hold significant potential as viable alternatives or complementary approaches to traditional pharmacological and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Given the limited existing empirical evidence, the researcher recommends further experimental studies to examine the process and outcomes of art therapy for children with ASD.