Fateme Mohammadi - Chronic Diseases (Home Care) Research Center, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Fatemeh Cheraghi - Chronic Diseases (Home Care) Research Center, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Salman khazaei - Health Sciences Research Center, Health Sciences & Technology Research Institute, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Mahdieh Seyedi - Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Mohammad Rezaei - Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Fatemeh Mirzaie - Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.

Objectives: The disability to recognize facial emotions is one of the behavioral problems in autistic children. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of education on the promotion of face recognition. Methods: This single-blind clinical trial study was conducted on children with autism. The participants were allocated with random sampling to the two groups. Autistic children in the intervention group were educated in ۱۰ sessions with ۴۰ facial emotions images, each session lasted ۲۰ min. Autistic children in the control group underwent routine teaching. The assistant researcher completed the Benton questionnaire for each child before and after the study. The obtained data were analyzed with SPSS software, version ۲۲. Results: This study showed that education on facial emotions has good effects on the recognition of facial expressions by children with autism. In addition, a significant difference is identified between the two study groups in identifying facial emotions (P<۰.۰۰۱).  Discussion: Education to children with autism improved facial emotion identification. Therefore, according to the increase in children with autism all over the world such as in Iran, it seems that caregivers and health managers should review and use our study results for providing a supportive environment to promote recognition emotional states of the face and ultimately to improve the child’s treatment.

Emotion, Recognition, Children, Autism, Parents