Therapeutic Effect of Educational Robotics on Neurocognitive and Social Skills in Two Case Studies of Children with Neurodevelopmental Difficulties

In recent decades, technological advances have fostered new therapeutic approaches for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder. Educational robotics has emerged as a promising resource for acquiring social skills, recognizing emotions, and developing theory of mind. However, there is still a need to understand which dimensions are most susceptible to this specific intervention and how its impact differs based on individual profiles. This study analyzes the effect of a therapeutic intervention based on Educational Robotics on Social Skills, Emotional Recognition, and Theory of Mind in two students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The intervention was structured in seven sessions using the ANDY® kit. Tests from the NEPSY-II battery and an observational rubric of Social Skills recorded session by session were applied. Both participants showed significant improvements in Social Skills, especially in rules of courtesy, nonverbal communication, and conversational interaction. Regarding Emotional Recognition, one participant improved in identifying highly affective emotions, while the other showed more modest progress. Theory of Mind showed progress in only one of the participants. Adherence was high, although a slight decrease in motivation was identified in the last sessions. These results suggest that Educational Robotics, when applied within a structured therapeutic framework, can effectively foster socioemotional development in children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. However, variability across domains highlights the importance of tailoring interventions to individual profiles and complementing them with strategies that support the transfer of learning to natural contexts.