The Effectiveness of Training based on Theory of Mind and TEACCH Method on the Level of Communication Skills and Social Interactions in Children with Autism Spectrometry

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of General Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Assistant professor' of psychology,Department of Psychology, Ahwaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahwaz, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Ahaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahaz, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Training based on mind theory and TEACCH's method on improving communication skills and social interaction of children with autism spectrum.
Methods: The research method is quasi-experimental (pre-test-post-test and control). The statistical population of the study consisted of all autistic children in Bushehr in 1397. Samples were selected by convenience sampling method and 45 subjects were randomly assigned into two experimental and one control groups. In this study, components of Giliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS-20 software and covariance analysis.
Results: The results of the data analysis showed that the effectiveness based on the theory of mind was effective on improving communication skills (F = 34.29, P≤0.001) and social interaction (F = 92/21, P≤0.001). The effectiveness of TEACCH's method was also effective on improving communication skills (F = 25.01, P≤0.001) and social interaction (F = 92/21, P≤0.001), and there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups.
Conclusion: TEACCH's method and mind theory can be effective in improving the social interaction of children on the autism spectrum. It is suggested that in order to increase the level of social interactions in children, the theory of mind and the TEACCH's method be used more than before.

Keywords


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