title: Improving Empathic Communication Skills in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: The literature suggests that many individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience challenges with recognizing and describing emotions in others, which may result in difficulties with the verbal expression of empathy during communication. Thus, there is a need for intervention techniques targeting this area. Using a multiple baseline across participants design, this study examined the effectiveness of a video-feedback intervention with a visual framework component to improve verbal empathetic statements and questions during conversation for adults with ASD. Following intervention, all participants improved in verbal expression of empathetic statements and empathetic questions during conversation with generalization and maintenance of gains. Furthermore, supplemental assessments indicated that each participant improved in their general level of empathy and confidence in communication skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, Koegel Autism Center, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9490, USA. lynnk@education.ucsb.edu.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kern Koegel
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, Koegel Autism Center, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9490, USA. kristen@education.ucsb.edu.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ashbaugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, Koegel Autism Center, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9490, USA.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navab
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, Koegel Autism Center, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9490, USA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Koegel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D004645:Empathy; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Empathy; Sharing emotions; Social conversation; Social-emotional reciprocity