Improvement in Social Competence Using a Randomized Trial of a Theatre Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com

Y

15

Autism; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Children; Interpersonal Competence; Skill Development; Intervention; Randomized Controlled Trials; Instructional Effectiveness; Theater Arts; Outcomes of Treatment; Experimental Groups; Control Groups; Comparative Analysis; Toys; Play; Intercultural Communication; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Memory; Recognition (Psychology); Theory of Mind; Pilot Projects; Neuropsychology; Cognitive Processes; Brain

10.1007/s10803-015-2600-9

0162-3257

The efficacy of a peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention on social competence in participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was tested. Thirty 8-to-14 year-olds with ASD were randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 17) or a wait-list control (n = 13) group. Immediately after treatment, group effects were seen on social ability, (d = 0.77), communication symptoms (d = -0.86), group play with toys in the company of peers (d = 0.77), immediate memory of faces as measured by neuropsychological (d = 0.75) and ERP methods (d = 0.93), delayed memory for faces (d = 0.98), and theory of mind (d = 0.99). At the 2 month follow-up period, group effects were detected on communication symptoms (d = 0.82). The results of this pilot clinical trial provide initial support for the efficacy of the theatre-based intervention.

As Provided

86

2016

EJ1088305