Abstract
In the exploratory study reported here, we tested the efficacy of an intervention designed to train teenagers with Möbius syndrome (MS) to increase the use of alternative communication strategies (e.g., gestures) to compensate for their lack of facial expressivity. Specifically, we expected the intervention to increase the level of rapport experienced in social interactions by our participants. In addition, we aimed to identify the mechanisms responsible for any such increase in rapport. In the study, five teenagers with MS interacted with three naïve participants without MS before the intervention, and with three different naïve participants without MS after the intervention. Rapport was assessed by self-report and by behavioral coders who rated videos of the interactions. Individual non-verbal behavior was assessed via behavioral coders, whereas verbal behavior was automatically extracted from the sound files. Alignment was assessed using cross recurrence quantification analysis and mixed-effects models. The results showed that observer-coded rapport was greater after the intervention, whereas self-reported rapport did not change significantly. Observer-coded gesture and expressivity increased in participants with and without MS, whereas overall linguistic alignment decreased. Fidgeting and repetitiveness of verbal behavior also decreased in both groups. In sum, the intervention may impact non-verbal and verbal behavior in participants with and without MS, increasing rapport as well as overall gesturing, while decreasing alignment.
Highlights
Möbius syndrome (MS) is a form of congenital facial paralysis – typically complete and bilateral – resulting from maldevelopment of the sixth and seventh cranial nerves [1]
The decrease in fidgeting and increase in speech rate variability on the part of non-MS participants in our study provides support for the conjecture that some of the difficulties experienced by people with MS in social interactions may arise from other people’s discomfort or uncertainty about how to behave
The findings reported here provide evidence that a social skills workshop for teenagers with MS can help to increase the level of rapport they achieve in social interactions
Summary
Möbius syndrome (MS) is a form of congenital facial paralysis – typically complete and bilateral – resulting from maldevelopment of the sixth and seventh cranial nerves [1]. Given the centrality of the face for expressing emotions and other mental states, and for communicating other non-verbal social cues, it is natural to expect that people with MS may experience difficulties in their social interactions. In a larger study, Bogart and Matsumoto [4] compared 37 Americans with MS to 37 matched controls without facial paralysis and found no differences between the groups in depression or anxiety, they did find that participants with MS had lower social competence. The conclusion to be drawn from these studies is that some people with MS manage well, whereas others may benefit from psychosocial support
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