A PROGRAM BASED ON THE THEORY OF MIND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF JOINT ATTENTION IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Abstract

The lack of or deficit in the skills of joint attention is one of the main characteristics that characterize the children of disorders of the spectrum of autism، and it is an early diagnostic indicators of disorders of the spectrum of autism، and the lack of skills of joint attention children of disorders of the spectrum of autism for other children with special needs, Joint attention to the children of autism disorders However، the field of research is still an early field، and because of the importance of training in the skills of joint attention in the development of language skills، social and communication in children of the spectrum of autism later. Research problem The current research problem is determined by the following questions: • What is the effectiveness of a program to develop the joint attention of children with autism spectrum disorders? • What is the possibility of continuing the effectiveness of the program to develop the joint attention of children with autism spectrum disorders?

Research objectives o Development of the skills of joint attention (Initiation with joint attention- response to the joint attention) in children of the autism spectrum disorders; o The preparation of a program to develop the joint attention of children with autism spectrum disorder; o The research aims to verify the effectiveness of the program in developing the joint attention of children with autism spectrum disorders، and to ensure the continuity of its effectiveness. Research importance • The current research presents a theoretical heritage that illustrates the concept of common attention، the theory of mind، autism، its causes، characteristics and diagnosis، and the development of joint attention among children with autism spectrum disorders; • Although there are many studies that dealt with educational and psychological programs and their effectiveness with autistic children، it is scarce to find a study of the development of joint attention to them within the researcher's knowledge; • The research may help to attract the attention of those interested in the field of special education to the need to recognize the improvement of mutual attention in the children of autism and the provision of therapeutic services to them، and provide diagnostic tools of reliability and stability to identify them، and identify the shortcomings in the skills of joint attention and how to develop and use them as a diagnosis distinguishes the children with autism spectrum disorders at an early stage of age; • It is represented in the action to help children with autism spectrum disorders by designing a program for the development of joint attention based on some activities that fit with the characteristics of these children and the use of behavioral skills and different strategies;