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Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 11/2011

01-11-2011 | Original paper

Avatar Assistant: Improving Social Skills in Students with an ASD Through a Computer-Based Intervention

Auteurs: Ingrid Maria Hopkins, Michael W. Gower, Trista A. Perez, Dana S. Smith, Franklin R. Amthor, F. Casey Wimsatt, Fred J. Biasini

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 11/2011

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Abstract

This study assessed the efficacy of FaceSay, a computer-based social skills training program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This randomized controlled study (N = 49) indicates that providing children with low-functioning autism (LFA) and high functioning autism (HFA) opportunities to practice attending to eye gaze, discriminating facial expressions and recognizing faces and emotions in FaceSay’s structured environment with interactive, realistic avatar assistants improved their social skills abilities. The children with LFA demonstrated improvements in two areas of the intervention: emotion recognition and social interactions. The children with HFA demonstrated improvements in all three areas: facial recognition, emotion recognition, and social interactions. These findings, particularly the measured improvements to social interactions in a natural environment, are encouraging.
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Metagegevens
Titel
Avatar Assistant: Improving Social Skills in Students with an ASD Through a Computer-Based Intervention
Auteurs
Ingrid Maria Hopkins
Michael W. Gower
Trista A. Perez
Dana S. Smith
Franklin R. Amthor
F. Casey Wimsatt
Fred J. Biasini
Publicatiedatum
01-11-2011
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 11/2011
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1179-z

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