Computer-Assisted Social Skills Training With Hearing-Impaired Students

Abstract

AbstractThis article describes a computer-assisted social skills training intervention model and illustrates its effect by providing a detailed description of three hearing-impaired (HI) adolescents’ case studies. Different conflictual social situations were presented on the computer screen. Each participating HI student was: asked to select one of four alternative responses to each social situation. Based on the student’s response, a new social situation was presented, and the student was asked to make a new selection. Examination of the three case studies showed promising improvements in students’ social decisions and in teachers’ evaluations. Teachers noted difficulties in the generalization of the training results. The inclusion of intensive discussions with the training teacher and with another student as an integral part of the training procedure is suggested as a means to improve generalizability.