The effect of scripts in improving conversational skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of scripts in improving conversational skill about photographs to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, after the intervention was completed, the participants' level of skill maintenance and generalization to different people were also examined. Method: The study was conducted with three individuals, two boys and one girl with ASD, aged between 7-9 years. Each participant's topic of conversation was selected from the activities of their interest and four scripts were prepared for each participant. It was aimed for the participants to talk by taking turns with scripts consisting of 4-5 words. Audio scripts were used in the study. The scripts and photographs were presented via iPhone. In this research, the multiple probe design across participants, one of the single subject designs, was used. Also, the interobserver reliability and treatment integrity data were collected at each stage of the research. Findings: The efficacy findings show that scripts were effective in improving conversational skills about photographs to three individuals with ASD. In addition, participants maintained and generalized these skills to different individuals. Social validity findings showed that the opinions of special education teachers were all positive. Conclusion and Recommendations: Scripts were effective in improving the conversational skills of individuals with ASD. Scripts are used in teaching many different skills to individuals with ASD, such as joint attention, discriminating emotions, initiating interaction, and conversation. Further research may examine the effect of scripts on teaching different communication skills to individuals with ASD in natural contexts. Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, scripts, conversation, iPhone