BUFFALO, NY - Researchers at the Institute for Autism Research (IAR) at Canisius University continue to break new ground in the treatment for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD).
This time, IAR researchers set out to enhance Mind Reading – the commonly used emotion-recognition software – to assist children with HFASD who struggle to recognize emotional expressions in others.
Prior studies with Mind Reading have relied almost exclusively on having children learn and practice emotion recognition using only the computer software. The IAR’s research included the Mind Reading computer instruction but also repeated practice opportunities for emotion recognition and expression. There was also reinforcement for accurately recognizing and expressing emotions in facial expressions.
Following a 12-week treatment trial, researchers found considerable improvement in childrens’ abilities to read emotional cues, and they rated significantly better at facial- emotion recognition and expression by their parents. The same children also had notably lower parent ratings of autism symptoms including social impairments following treatment.
“These findings suggest that emotion recognition and expression skills of children with HFASD can be significantly improved, and autism symptoms and impairments reduced, by providing direct instruction, real-life practice opportunities and reinforcement for accuracy,” says Marcus L. Thomeer, PhD, co-director of the IAR and the study’s lead author.
“More importantly, the improvements were maintained after treatment ended,” adds Thomeer’s colleague and co-author, Christopher Lopata, PsyD. “This is promising as children with HFASD often have difficulty maintaining skills after treatment ends.”
This was the first randomized trial of the Mind Reading computer program for children with HFASD.
WEB EXTRA: Click here to learn more about the Institute for Autism Research at Canisius University.
