Do Social Skills Groups Only Benefit Kids With ASD

Social skills groups are small groups led by a facilitator who guides these children to teach them how to interact with others their age. These groups can help children learn conversational, friendship and problem-solving skills, which is why they are often recommended for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, this doesn’t mean that they are reserved for autistic children. There are many different types of children that can benefit from social skills groups.

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Which Children Can Benefit From Social Skills Groups?

Social skills groups can make a significant difference for participants that appear to have difficulty developing social skills as quickly as peers. This includes:

Children With ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADhttps://autismcenterforkids.com/learning-disability-and-adhd/HD) refers to the neurologically-based condition previously known as ADD. Its symptoms fall into one of three quantifying subtypes: Primarily Inattentive, Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive or Combined. It is also possible for symptoms to vary from person to person, but include fidgeting, running around or climbing things excessively, blurting out responses before hearing a message, difficulty with turn-taking, interrupting or intruding.

Children With Pervasive Developmental Disorders – Not Otherwise Specified.(PDD-NOS)

PDD-NOS is characterized by specific delays in social and communication skills. This is one of the many subtypes of autism used for children who are on the autism spectrum but that do not fully meet the requirements for ASD. Like all forms of autism, PDD-NOS can be accompanied by a wide range of intellectual abilities. Some developmental health professionals sometimes call PDD-NOS “subthreshold autistic disorder.”

Children with Non-verbal Learning Disabilities.

Nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD) is a learning impairment that affects motor, visual-spatial and social skills. Children with NVLD can speak well and write well. However, they struggle to understand abstract concepts and subtle social cues.

Children with Social Communication Disorders.

Social communication disorder can be described as a brain-based condition. This means that the child’s brain is not developing normally. Children with this disorder may struggle to use verbal and non-verbal communication appropriately. A social communication disorder is usually diagnosed with the help of several healthcare professionals, including psychologists and speech pathologists.

How Can Social Skills Training Help Children?

Children in social skills groups may have trouble initiating, keeping or ending conversations. They might also have difficulty reading social cues and body language or reacting appropriately to social situations. These groups are intended to help these children learn the specific skills needed to deal with challenges and actively participate in social interactions. The group members are encouraged to work together in developing skills.

What If There Are No Social Skills Groups Near Me?

There are various therapies and interventions available for children with social impairments. You can have your child work with a therapist or counsellor that will use appropriate tools to guide your child. There are also many things that you and other family members can do at home to help your child, such as arranging playdates and developing silent cues and instructions to remind them of certain social behaviours like saying “please” and “thank you.”  

In our digital age, it is also possible to join an online social skills support group and social skills programs to connect with facilitators. There are also software programs available to help your child with specific social skills development.

Summary

Kids with all types of learning and behavioural impairments can benefit from joining a social skills group or receiving other social skills interventions. These group sessions are not intended to single out one group of special needs children but are tailored to help children gain social competence no matter what issues they may face. Make sure to consult a professional to get a behaviour analysis and evaluation of your child’s needs and capabilities before choosing an intervention method.