Quantifying social skill deficits and strengths profiles in autistic youth

Abstract

While social difficulties in autism are well-established, questions remain regarding whether these represent challenges in acquiring or performing such skills, reduced social strengths, or a unique distribution across these domains (i.e., social profile). This study empirically derived social profiles of 211 autistic and non-autistic youth (M age = 13.50; Autistic N = 150; Male N = 151; 85.3% White). Assessments occurred between 2016 and 2020. Results showed that autistic youth exhibit significantly more social acquisition and performance deficits and fewer strengths than nonautistic youth (ds = −.44 to .65). Performance deficits were most-and acquisition deficits least-prominent within autistic profiles, potentially implicating longstanding theoretical models of social difficulties in autism, and supporting new, idiographic approaches for conceptualizing, assessing, and treating social challenges.

Chatting with GPT: Enhancing Individualized Education Program Goal Development for Novice Special Education Teachers

“…The results of the study provide valuable insights into the types of goals developed by teachers in the ChatGPT and control groups for children with autism. It is well-established that children with autism often struggle with communication and social interaction, while also exhibiting challenging behaviors (Gates et al, 2023). Therefore, it is encouraging to see that the ChatGPT group had a higher percentage of goals developed in the communication and social domains, as these domains are pivotal for the holistic development of children with autism, addressing core areas that significantly impact their quality of life.…”