Transferring learning to everyday life in autism spectrum disorder through an Executive Functions training programme / Generalización del aprendizaje a la vida cotidiana en trastorno del espectro autista a través de un programa de entrenamiento en Funciones Ejecutivas

Abstract

Executive dysfunctions are present in numerous disorders, including autism. One of the main limitations of the tests traditionally used to measure executive functioning is that they are poorly adjusted to the demands of real life. This study shows the ability of seven children with autism, aged between five and 12 (M = 7.7, SD = 2.0), to transfer the executive skills they learnt in an executive functions training programme to everyday life. For the study the participants’ parents and teachers were asked to fill out the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI) questionnaire before and after the intervention. The results of the pre-test-post-test analysis in both groups of respondents show statistically significant differences in the two questionnaire factors: Total working memory and Total inhibition. The need to focus assessment and intervention for people with autism on difficulties in everyday executive functioning for optimal psycho-social adaptation of the individual to their environment is emphasized.