Research summaries for autism therapy: high-functioning autism

definition of high-functioning autism: Refers to higher skill levels in people who have some kind of special need or impairment. For people with autism, there is a range of severity of autism between individuals. For example, someone who has good communication skills and appropriate behaviors is said to be high functioning.
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Social Skills Training for Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism, Summarized Dec 5, 2007

Social skills therapy groups can help teenagers with autism feel more comfortable when around other people.

This study was designed to see if group social skills therapy could help teenagers with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism. They found that group social skills therapy helped verbal teenagers with autism gain a moderate amount of social skills. The authors also found that the therapy helped a range of problem behaviors found with autism including anxiety, self-isolation, and self-injury. The effect on behavior was very much like the effect seen in studies of risperidone as a treatment for teenagers with autism. The authors note that this study is valuable because the type of group therapy studied can be offered by most treatment centers. Read more...

Social Development in Individuals with High Functioning Autism and Asperger Disorder, Summarized Nov 23, 2007

Some day it will be possible to teach people with autism the social skills that they need to live happy lives.

Up until recently many people thought that it was impossible to teach social skills to people with autism. Recent research has shown that social therapy can improve the social skills of people with autism. Social skills can best be taught by first helping the child with autism want to be with other people. Studies have also shown that quality of life (QoL) can improve when social skills improve. QoL can also improve when a person with autism has a higher self-esteem. Read more...

Open-Label Atomoxetine for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms Associated with High-Functioning Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Summarized Jan 25, 2007

Atomoxetine may help children who have autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The study was designed to see if atomoxetine can be used to treat problems with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can sometimes be found in children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). The study included only 17 children (ages 6-17). The children showed an improvement in the general symptoms of autism (Clinical Global Impressions Severity). They also showed some improvements in behavior (Aberrant Behavior Checklist). The authors suggest that atomoxetine may work for children who cannot take other drugs that are commonly used to treat ADHD (stimulants).
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Systemizing Empathy: Teaching Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism to Recognize Complex Emotions Using Interactive Multimedia, Summarized Dec 6, 2006

The computer program Mind Reading is able to help adults with autism learn to recognize complex emotions.

Individuals with autism spectrum conditions have trouble recognizing emotions from faces, voices, and eyes. Mind Reading was able to teach this skill even when it was only used for a short period of time (20 hours over 10 weeks). The adults who participated in this study reported that after using the Mind Reading software, they were more willing to look at people and make eye contact. The authors suggest that an improved ability to read emotions may result in improved confidence and willingness to interact with others. In this experiment, individuals using Mind Reading were compared to individuals receiving no therapy.
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Synonyms for high-functioning autism include: high functioning, high functioning autism, high-functioning
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