title: The Effectiveness of Theory of Mind Training On the Social Skills of Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) tend to have problems in establishing and maintaining their social relationships. Some professionals believe this social impairment is the result of deficit in Theory of Mind (ToM). This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of ToM training on such children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental method, pre- test, post-test with control group was used. The sample included of 12 girls and 12 boys with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASD). Two instruments were used as follows: the Theory of Mind test and the social skills questionnaire (1). The samples were randomly placed in the experimental and control groups. The experimental groups had 15 sessions of ToM training and the control groups had just regular school program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov, independent t- and twoway- variance tests. The scores for social skills in the experimental group were significantly more than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ToM training might improve the social skills of children with autism spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of University of Social Welfare and rehabilitation Sciences, & pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center. Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adibsereshki
authors.affiliation: PhD in Psychology & Education of Exceptional Children, Department of Psychology, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nesayan
authors.affiliation: PhD in Psychology & Education of Exceptional Children, Department of Psychology, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran.
authors.forename: Roghayeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asadi Gandomani
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimlou
keywords: Children; High Functional Autism Spectrum Disorders; Social skills; Theory of Mind