Theater-based-programs can enhance the social abilities of children with autism, according to a recent study.
Researchers from Vanderbilt University found that children with autism who participated in a 10-week, 40-hour, theatre-based program showed significant differences in social ability compared to a group of children with autism who did not participate.
Acting is an interactive process that involves many aspects of socializing -- observing, perceiving, interpreting and expressing thoughts, feelings and ideas, making it a great and effective therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder.
"Peers can be transformative in their ability to reach and teach children a variety of fundamental social skills," researcher Blythe Corbett, an associate professor at Vanderbilt University, said in a statement. "And, combined with acting techniques that enhance our ability and motivation to communicate with others, the data suggests we may be setting the stage for lasting changes in how our children with autism perceive and interact with the social world."
For the study, researchers collected and analyzed data from 30 children between the ages 8 and14, with 17 randomized to an experimental group and 13 in the control group.
The experimental group participated in a theater-based program, they showed notable changes in the ability to identify and remember faces, which was corroborated by changes in brain patterns that arise when study participants saw a familiar face. They also showed more group play with children outside the treatment setting, as well as improvement in social communication at home and in the community that was maintained for at least two months.
In addition to utilizing theatre techniques, such as role-playing and improvisation, participants in SENSE Theatre are paired with typically developing peer actors from the University School of Nashville.
These "expert models," as Corbett calls them, are trained to provide a supportive, engaging, and dynamic learning environment for the children with autism, allowing them to practice and perform vital social skills.
The findings, which are detailed in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, were funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
