The Effectiveness of Social Skills Intervention Targeting Nonverbal Communication for Adolescents With Asperger Syndrome and Related Pervasive Developmental Delays

This study investigated the effectiveness of a social skills intervention targeting nonverbal communication for 8 adolescents With Asperger syndrome (AS) and related pervasive developmental delays. The Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy 2 (DANVA2; NoWicki, 1997) Was used as a pre- and posttest measure to assess participants' nonverbal language skills. During the 8-Week social skills intervention, lessons Were adapted from those presented in Teaching Your Child the Language of Social Success (Duke, NoWicki, & Martin, 1996). Training during the first 4 Weeks targeted paralanguage (deciphering varying tones of voice and rates of speech, understanding nonverbal sound patterns, and gaining meaning from others' marked emphases in speech). The remaining 4 sessions focused on identifying and responding to the facial expressions of others. The folloWing teaching strategies Were employed throughout the social skills intervention: role-playing, modeling, and reinforcement through feedback. Results are discussed relative to social groWth among participants.

[1]  Karen Williams.  Understanding the Student with Asperger Syndrome , 2001 .

[2]  Simon Baron-Cohen,et al.  Teaching Children with Autism to Mind-read: A Practical Guide , 1999 .

[3]  L. Wing,et al.  Asperger's syndrome: a clinical account , 1981, Psychological Medicine.

[4]  G. Sasso,et al.  A Comparison of the Effects of Organismic and Setting Variables on the Social Interaction Behavior of Children with Developmental Disabilities and Autism , 1998 .

[5]  J. Ciechalski,et al.  The Effects of Social Skills Training on Students with Exceptionalities. , 1995 .

[6]  E. Schopler.  Premature Popularization of Asperger Syndrome , 1998 .

[7]  David J. Hansen,et al.  Enhancing the effectiveness of social skills interventions with adolescents , 1998 .

[8]  R. Simpson,et al.  Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Educators and Parents , 1997 .

[9]  K. Jolivette,et al.  Use of the Structural Analysis Hypothesis Testing Model to Improve Social Interactions via Peer-Mediated Intervention , 1997 .

[10]  Teaching Your Child the Language of Social Success , 1996 .

[11]  Robert H. Horner,et al.  Interpreting Outcomes of Social Skills Training for Students with High-Incidence Disabilities , 2001 .

[12]  L. Wing.  The History of Asperger Syndrome , 1998 .

[13]  Victoria Gordon,et al.  A Social Skills Group for Boys with Asperger's Syndrome , 1995, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry.

[14]  Evaluation of the Multiple Effects of a Social Skill Intervention , 1994 .

[15]  D. Skuse.  Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals , 1998 .

[16]  L. Schreibman,et al.  Using Peer Trainers to Promote Social Behavior in Autism , 1997 .

[17]  Val Cumine,et al.  Asperger Syndrome: A Practical Guide for Teachers , 1998 .

[18]  S. Amanullah,et al.  The Social, Behavioral, and Academic Experiences of Children with Asperger Syndrome , 2000 .

[19]  Pamela M. Yates,et al.  The Potential Effectiveness of Social Skills Groups for Adults with Autism , 1999 .