This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Silver, M. Articles by Oakes, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Silver, M. Articles by Oakes, P. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Asperger's Syndrome Autism Family Issues Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Evaluation of a New Computer Intervention to Teach People with Autism or Asperger Syndrome to Recognize and Predict Emotions in Others

St James’s Hospital, Leeds, UK, miriam{at}webmancer.freeserve.co.uk

Peter Oakes

Hull University, UK

This randomized controlled trial looked at the effect of a new computer program designed to teach people with autistic spectrum disorders to better recognize and predict emotional responses in others. Two groups of 11 children (age 12-18) with autism or Asperger syndrome at two special schools participated: one group used the computer program for 10 half-hour sessions over 2 weeks. Within-program data showed a significant reduction in errors made from first to last use. Students were assessed pre- and post-intervention using facial expression photographs, cartoons depicting emotion-laden situations, and non-literal stories. Scores were not related to age or verbal ability. The experimental group made gains relative to the control group on all three measures. Gains correlated significantly with the number of times the computer program was used and results suggest positive effects. Further research could assess whether these gains generalized into real life or improved performance on theory of mind measures.

Key Words: Asperger syndrome • autism • computer • emotion • intervention

Autism, Vol. 5, No. 3, 299-316 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/1362361301005003007


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Baron-Cohen, O. Golan, and E. Ashwin Can emotion recognition be taught to children with autism spectrum conditions? Phil Trans R Soc B, December 12, 2009; 364(1535): 3567 - 3574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. Sansosti and K. A. Powell-Smith Using Computer-Presented Social Stories and Video Models to Increase the Social Communication Skills of Children With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, July 1, 2008; 10(3): 162 - 178. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. G. Lacava, O. Golan, S. Baron-Cohen, and B. Smith Myles Using Assistive Technology to Teach Emotion Recognition to Students With Asperger Syndrome: A Pilot Study Remedial and Special Education, June 1, 2007; 28(3): 174 - 181. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Parsons, P. Mitchell, and A. Leonard Do adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders adhere to social conventions in virtual environments? Autism, February 1, 2005; 9(1): 95 - 117. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Moore, Yufang Cheng, P. McGrath, and N. J. Powell Collaborative Virtual Environment Technology for People With Autism Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, January 1, 2005; 20(4): 231 - 243. [Abstract] [PDF]