Effect of Cognitive Training Program in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Experimental Study

Cognitive Skills Training Program

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological developmental condition significantly inappropriate development in social interaction, social communication, and repetitive patterns of behaviours, which may often persist in the person's entire life. The present study aims to ascertain the effect of cognitive training program to improve the cognitive functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder. A total of 20 children with autism spectrum disorder were placed in this study. A quasi-experimental single subject pre-post design was used to investigate the effectiveness of the cognitive training program to improve the child's cognitive functioning. The Color progressive matrices test of intelligence was used to measure the child's IQ, and the Indian Assessment of Autism Scale was used to assess the autism level of the child. The Cognitive Skills Assessment Scale was administered to measure the pre-post assessment of the child's cognitive functioning. The cognitive training module was administered to the children. It comprised executive functioning, cognitive mental states and central coherence tasks. Total 12 sessions of the cognitive training program were provided to the children. The results showed significant improvement in executive functioning, understanding cognitive mental states, and central coherence. The cognitive skills training program positively influenced the children's cognitive functioning.