Social skills training for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Deficits in social skills are a hallmark feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), affecting individuals across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan. Despite the pervasiveness of this impairment, social skills training programs are arguably understudied compared to other treatment approaches for ASD, with social skills intervention studies for adolescents and adults especially scarce. This chapter will outline the characteristic social deficits common among adolescents and adults with ASD, as well as provide an overview of evidence-based treatment delivery methods, empirically supported social skills programs for adolescents and adults with ASD, and research methodology for studying social skills training. Limitations of existing social skills interventions for adolescents and adults are highlighted and recommendations for future research are discussed.