Assessment the Level of Cognitive Performance and Social Interaction among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Jordan

Abstract

The present study aimed at assessing the level of cognitive performance and social interaction in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorder in Jordan. The sample included 10 cases of persons with autism spectrum disorder aged between 15 and 16 years. To achieve the goal of the study, the researchers constructed a scale of social interaction and a scale of cognitive performance. The reliability and validity of the scales were ascertained. To answer the questions of the study, the researchers have used means, standard deviation, and Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed that the performance level on the social interaction scale with its items and the cognitive performance scale with its items reached an average level. The results also indicate that there are no statistically significant differences in social interaction and cognitive performance according to the age variable. The study recommended providing therapeutic programs for the development of social interaction and cognitive performance of people with the autism spectrum disorder.