Background: Behavioral problems are among the most common challenges in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), often leading to difficulties in social adjustment and family functioning. Finding effective interventions to reduce these behavioral difficulties is a continuing concern for clinicians and researchers. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation and play-based intervention in reducing behavioral problems among children with ASD. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control group was employed. Thirty-six children with ASD, aged 6 to 12 years, were selected through purposive sampling from autism rehabilitation centers in Marand, Iran, and randomly assigned to three groups: cognitive rehabilitation, play-based intervention, and control. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used for assessment. The interventions lasted for 10 to 12 sessions, each 40–60 minutes, held twice weekly. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 with mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Results: Both cognitive rehabilitation and play-based intervention significantly reduced behavioral problems compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the two experimental groups. Conclusion: Cognitive rehabilitation and play-based approaches are both effective in improving behavioral outcomes in children with ASD. Integrating these methods into educational and therapeutic programs may enhance emotional regulation and social functioning in affected children.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Behavioral Problems Cognitive Rehabilitation Play Based Intervention Quasi Experimental Study