Carmela De Domenico

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Carmela De Domenico is a rising researcher at the intersection of pediatric rehabilitation, human-robot interaction, and autism intervention. Her work focuses on leveraging social robotics—particularly the NAO robot—to enhance communication and therapeutic outcomes for minimally verbal autistic children. In her 2025 study on NAO-assisted therapy, she demonstrated how predictable, structured robot interactions can improve engagement and language skills in children who often do not respond to traditional approaches. De Domenico is also a leading voice on the role of families in technology-mediated care. Her highly-cited 2024 systematic review on parental involvement in robot-mediated intervention reframed the parent as an essential therapeutic partner, arguing that family engagement is a necessary condition for intervention effectiveness. Though early in her career, her work has already garnered attention, with her most-cited papers accumulating 14 citations. By bridging engineering, clinical psychology, and family-centered care, De Domenico is shaping a more inclusive, evidence-based future for pediatric robotics—one where technology empowers not just the child, but the entire support system around them.