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A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
Evidence-based social skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: the UCLA PEERS program
Elizabeth A Laugeson1, Fred Frankel, Alexander Gantman
1Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Ste 48-243B, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. elaugeson@mednet.ucla.edu
Abstract:
The present study examines the efficacy and durability of the PEERS Program, a parent-assisted social skills group intervention for high-functioning adolescents with ASD. Results indicate that teens receiving PEERS significantly improved their social skills knowledge, social responsiveness, and overall social skills in the areas of social communication, social cognition, social awareness, social motivation, assertion, cooperation, and responsibility, while decreasing autistic mannerisms and increasing the frequency of peer interactions. Independent teacher ratings revealed significant improvement in social skills and assertion from pre-test to follow-up assessment. Examination of durability of improvement revealed maintenance of gains in nearly all domains with additional treatment gains at a 14-week follow-up assessment.
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