Background & Aims: Autism spectrum disorder is neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social-communication difficulties and stereotyped behaviors. The present study evaluates the effects of cognitive rehabilitation based on inverse imitation on recognition of basic emotion in children with high functioning autism disorder.

Materials Method: The method was quasi-experimental and single-subject design and three children with high-functioning autism participated with an intact sampling method, and received 12 sessions of cognitive rehabilitation on imitation. In two sessions a week and 1 hour per session, the children received the interventions based on inverse imitation instruction. The assessments were done in 5 phases, 2 weeks before starting the treatment, one day before starting the treatment, after 5 sessions of treatment, after 12 sessions of treatment, one day after the end of treatment and finally the follow up phase (4 weeks after the end of treatment). NimStim of emotion recognition test and Ekman emotion recognition test were used research tools.  Data analysis performed by visual analysis chart and effect size was computed subsequently.

Results: The results showed the subjects’ performance in Ekman and NimStim of emotion recognition test. As well, the effect of the training program was effective in emotion recognition.

Conclusions: This study supports efficacy of training based on imitation in improving the emotional states of recognition skills in children with high- functioning autism.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2016: 27(7): 579 ISSN: 1027-3727