Peer-reviewed article
Psychological Interventions for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in the Context of Neurodiversity: A Systematic Review.
Megari K, Katsarou DV, Mantsos E, Papadopoulou S, Efthymiou E et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This systematic review examined 34 studies of psychological interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism, learning disabilities, and specific learning disorders. Traditional approaches like Applied Behavior Analysis and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy showed effectiveness, but newer methods emphasizing individual strengths and environmental adaptation aligned better with neurodiversity principles. The review found that interventions incorporating strengths-based and context-sensitive approaches produced more consistent improvements in functioning and quality of life. Research remains focused mainly on autism with limited studies on other conditions.
Key points
- Traditional interventions (ABA and CBT) demonstrate effectiveness in improving adaptive behavior, emotional regulation, and cognitive functioning
- Newer approaches including Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions and gamified interventions show greater alignment with neurodiversity principles
- Evidence base is uneven with predominant focus on autism and limited high-quality studies on other neurodevelopmental conditions
- Interventions incorporating individualized, strengths-based, and context-sensitive adaptations show more consistent improvements
- Need for more rigorous, inclusive, longitudinal research and integration of neurodivergent perspectives in intervention design
Limitations
The review does not identify specific countries or regional contexts, and does not provide detailed quality assessments of individual studies or effect sizes. It cannot tell us about implementation feasibility, cost-effectiveness, or how interventions perform across different cultural or economic settings.
Abstract
Background/objectives This systematic review examines psychological interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within a neurodiversity framework, emphasizing that variations in cognition, behavior, and neurological functioning represent natural forms of human diversity rather than deficits. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted across the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were included if they focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning or intellectual disabilities (LD/ID), or specific learning disabilities (SpLD), and evaluated psychological or behavioral interventions. Results A total of 34 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening and full-text review. The findings indicate that traditional interventions, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), demonstrate effectiveness in improving adaptive behavior, emotional regulation, and cognitive functioning. However, more recent approaches, including Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), person-centered therapies, and gamified interventions, show greater alignment with neurodiversity principles by emphasizing individual strengths, autonomy, and environmental adaptation. Conclusions Despite promising outcomes, the evidence base remains uneven, with a predominant focus on autism and limited high-quality studies addressing other neurodevelopmental conditions. The review highlights the need for more rigorous, inclusive, and longitudinal research, as well as the integration of neurodivergent perspectives in intervention design. Overall, the findings suggest that interventions incorporating individualized, strengths-based, and context-sensitive adaptations are associated with more consistent improvements in both functional outcomes and quality of life.