PSYCHOMOTRICITY AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Autism spectrum disorder is considered to be a global problem, as it has no definitive treatment, with unknown etiology, complexity of diagnosis and increasing spread throughout the world and in Algeria in particular.The latest version of the DSM-5 is based on two diagnostic criteria: lack of communication and social interaction; stereotyped behavior and restricted interests. Diagnosis is carried out by a team of specialists by collecting information, applying tests, and establishing a differential diagnosis. The efforts of specialists and researchers have contributed to the development of ways to take care of children with this disorder, as it helps them develop their skills and increase their independence and integration into society. Among these therapeutic interventions, we find psychomotor therapy, as the subject of this research. Psychomotricity consists of a specific practice focusing on the body, with the aim of alleviating sensorimotor and psychomotor disorders which are sometimes very disabling. The technique of playing is widely used according to the principles of kinetic psychology. The purpos of this paper is to make autism, its diagnosis and intervention methods known and to prove the efficiency of psychomotor intervention by analyzing the scientific literature. The importance of this topic lies in its enrichment of the literary balance, given its treatment of an important issue for society, and it´s interesting on the psychomotor intervention that is highly relied upon in the centers of care for children with autism, and an important return in terms of the development of their abilities.
Keywords: Psychomotricity, Autistic Children, Effectiveness of Therapy.