Can Social Stories Improve the Experience of an Autism Assessment? V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Use of Social Stories to Reduce Negative Affect and Improve Satisfaction in Adults Attending an Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder
IRAS ID
239758
Contact name
Richard Jenkins
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Many people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) find the unpredictability of social situations emotionally distressing. It is likely that attending a diagnostic assessment is no exception. Social Stories are short stories that describe a social situation so that people know what to expect. They are written in a way that is accessible to people with ASD. This study will explore whether a Social Story written about an ASD diagnostic assessment can reduce the associated emotional distress and increase people’s satisfaction with the process.
The study will involve recruiting adult participants who have an appointment scheduled for an ASD diagnostic assessment at an NHS clinic in Sheffield. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two groups: people in the first group will read a Social Story prior to their appointment (as well as the standard information the service provides); those in the second group will read only the standard information. If participants who read the Social Story report lower emotional distress and/or higher satisfaction during the assessment, this intervention could be a simple way that ASD services can better cater for their clients’ needs.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0081
Date of REC Opinion
20 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion