Abstract
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 = .77), communication symptoms (d = −.86), group play with toys in the company of peers (d = .77), immediate memory of faces as measured by neuropsychological (d = .75) and ERP methods (d = .93), delayed memory for faces (d = .98), and theory of mind (d = .99). At the 2 month follow-up period, group effects were detected on communication symptoms (d = .82). The results of this pilot clinical trial provide initial support for the efficacy of the theatre-based intervention.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 658-672 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2016 |
Keywords
- Autism
- Cognition
- ERP
- Faces
- Social competence
- Theatre
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology