The Effect of Social Skills Training on Socialization Skills in Children with Down Syndrome

Objectives: The development of social skills, especially skills in relating to peers, is an important capacity that provides the foundations for lifelong success. Some children with disabilities need to learn social skills more directly. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of social skills training on socialization skills development in children with Down syndrome. Methods: This study was a semi-experimental conducted on thirty-seven student with Down syndrome, ۸-۱۲ years old with IQ ۵۵–۷۵. Subjects were divided randomly in two groups (n=۱۸) and control group (n=۱۹). Initially, each of the subjects was assessed by the list of social skills, and then social skill training was performed for ۶۰ minutes, two times weekly, for two months in intervention group, and the socialization skills was evaluated after intervention and ۲ months later in the two groups. Results: A significant (P<۰.۰۵) improvement in socialization skills was occurred. Follow-up study also showed, improvement of socialization skills were maintained ۲ months after the end of training in intervention group (P<۰.۰۵). Discussion: It’s seems that training of social skills can improve the socialization skills of children with Down's syndrome.

Keywords:

Social skills training , Down syndrome , Socialization skills