Clinician's Handbook of Child Behavioral Assessment

Clinician's Handbook of Child Behavioral Assessment

Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional
2006, Pages 313-335
Clinician's Handbook of Child Behavioral Assessment

13 - Social Skills Deficits

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012343014-4/50014-9Get rights and content

Publisher Summary

Recent advances in assessment have produced a vast array of tools for the researchers and practitioners to choose from when treating children with social skills deficits. However, it is critical that there be a connection between the research literature and the clinical application. This chapter seeks to assist researchers and clinicians in how to reliably and accurately assess, conceptualize, and treat children with social skills deficits. It outlines recommendations for social skills assessments and describes the research basis and clinical utility of each method. In particular, naturalistic observations and behavioral rating scales are identified as primary assessment choices, and interviewing and sociometric strategies are suggested as important secondary choices. The chapter also discusses the key developmental considerations and the assessment, conceptualization, and treatment planning involved with treating children with social skills deficits. Finally, it provides a case study to illustrate the assessment of a child with social skills problems. By presenting a comprehensive framework of social skills assessment, the chapter tends to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice to successfully treat children with behavioral difficulties.

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