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Using a Question Bank Intervention to Improve Socially Initiated Questions in Adolescents and Adults With Autism
Lynn Kern Koegel1, Zak Koplen2, Brittany Koegel1
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
Summary
A question bank intervention effectively improved question asking in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This led to better social interactions and maintained improvements in natural settings.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Social Communication Interventions
- Applied Behavior Analysis
Background:
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently struggle with initiating and maintaining social conversations, particularly with question-asking.
- Difficulties in question-asking can hinder peer interactions and social integration for individuals with ASD.
- Developing effective interventions to improve social communication skills in ASD is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a question bank intervention for enhancing question-asking skills in adolescents and adults with ASD.
- To determine if the intervention improves the number and diversity of questions posed during social conversations.
- To assess the generalization and maintenance of improved question-asking behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A multiple-baseline experimental design was employed to assess the intervention's impact.
- Participants with ASD engaged in prepractice using question banks to learn and practice asking questions.
- The intervention was implemented during social conversations with neurotypical peers.
Main Results:
- All participants demonstrated significant improvements in question-asking frequency and diversity in natural social settings.
- The positive effects of the intervention generalized to novel conversational contexts and were maintained at follow-up.
- Social validity measures indicated that peers perceived participants as more socially desirable after the intervention.
Conclusions:
- A brief question bank intervention is effective in improving question-asking skills for individuals with ASD during social interactions.
- The intervention promotes generalization of skills to peer interactions in natural environments.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for enhancing social communication in autism spectrum disorder.
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