The Effectiveness of Social Skills Training on Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: One of the most important problems in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a deficiency in social skills that appear at an early age and impair or limit daily functioning. The aim of this study was to evaluate social skills training on ASD symptoms in adolescents. Materials and Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest. The statistical population consisted of 60 adolescents with high-functioning ASD in Tehran, Iran. Through purposive sampling, 12 subjects were selected and participated in 10 sessions lasting 90 minutes (two sessions per week). The participants were evaluated using the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS). Results: Social skills training did not have a significant effect on reducing stereotypical behavior (P = 0.11), communication problems (P = 0.26), social interactions (P = 0.08), and symptoms of developmental disorders (P = 0.77). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that social skills training alone has little impact on ASD symptoms in adolescents. Therefore, training that covers other troubled fields in these teenagers is recommended to alleviate the symptoms of this disorder.