The protocol requires a weekly assessment to evaluate treatment outcomes. The scoring method involves the opinion of at least two people, generally, from the medical or educational teams, who know the child's abilities. Children are observed individually or in small groups.
This procedure was time-consuming, semi-quantitative, and was not useful in detecting slight changes in the children's behavior or distinguishing different behavior patterns. During traditional therapy sessions, the SESOBEL team had to have a camera and a video operator in the therapy room, which distracted the children.
The treatment session's outcome was usually documented manually on hard copies and stored in the child's folder, while the recorded videos were difficult to manage and often not saved correctly. This made analyzing the data a daunting challenge.
Early behavioral and educational interventions have been successful with many children with ASD. In such cases, the treatment plan is based on a reliable, standardized assessment designed to meet the child's needs.
The new rehabilitation center at SESOBEL is first of its kind in the Middle East and equipped with a state-of-the-art behavior monitoring and logging system, a project initiated by Systeminence in collaboration with Axis Communications and Milestone Systems to aid evaluations and enhance treatment.
A behavior management system called Mantis has been installed - a Milestone smart client plugin developed by Systeminence to manage and operate behavioral therapy sessions and to organize data.
The project focuses on enhancing the classroom experience of children with ASD by recording their behavior and expressions with Axis cameras installed inside the therapy room or the classroom. With Milestone’s XProtect® Smart Client, the operator can manage the cameras from the control room without distracting the child or interrupting the therapy session.
During or after each session, the therapist can log behaviors directly on the video timeline inside the Smart Client, making all the behavioral details easily accessible, searchable, and quantifiable. All the data concerning the treatment goals and outcomes are stored in one place and accessed remotely.
Using this video recording system, therapists are able to set up an individualized treatment plan for each child. The project provides the medical and educational team with accurate quantitative data to help in ASD diagnosis, define specific goals, and evaluate treatment outcomes.
A descriptive statistical analysis can also be generated, making the clinical interpretation easier and more accurate. Moreover, the quantification of all this data will allow the medical team to carry out research studies that will enable them to better assess and treat children with ASD.
SESOBEL is taking all possible steps to implement a coherent and monitored service, to assist children and their families as partners in facing life's challenges. It is also a cornerstone for the team at SESOBEL to work to influence society to recognize the value, dignity, and respect for children with disabilities.
In 2020, Sesobel completed a new spacious treatment and rehabilitation center with innovative video technology, unique of its kind in school and rehabilitation settings in the Middle East. Please check their website for more information, www.sesobel.org