The effect of Thought-Bubble Training on the Theory of Mind in Female Autism Disorder Children with High Performance: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of thought-bubble training on the theory of mind in female autism disorder children with high performance. The present semi experimental study included pre-test, post-test with the control group design. The statistical population of the study consisted of 78 girls aged 8 to 12 years with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder referred to 2 medical centers in Tehran (for autism votes and friends) in the first six months of 2019. Among them, 26 people were selected by available sampling method and according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, as a research sample and randomly in two experimental groups (13 people) and control group (13 people). Were appointed. The subjects in the experimental group received the thought-bubble training in 8 sessions of 45 minutes (one session per week) individually; The control put on a waiting list. In order to gather data, Steammann theory of mind test (1999), were used. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance. Findings of the study showed that by controlling the effect of pre-test, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of post-test in the experimental and control groups in the theory of mind. According to the results of the study, children with autism disorder have difficulty in obtaining theory of mind, and the thought-bubble training can be effective in improving and accelerating the development of theory of mind in in autism disorder children with high performance

Keywords

• thought bubbles
• mind theory
• autism
• children