Shakespeare and autism: an exploratory evaluation of the Hunter Heartbeat Method

Mehling, Margaret H.; Tassé, Marc J.; Root, Robin

doi:10.1080/23297018.2016.1207202

Cited by 9 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…They reported encouraging finding from a sample of 14 children between the ages of 10 to 13 years who participated in the HHM intervention once a week after school for 14 weeks. Results indicated that some participants made measurable gains in social skills, facial emotion recognition, pragmatic language, and interpersonal relationship skill offering support for the potential efficacy of the HHM as a means to improve core symptoms associated with ASD [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Hunter Heartbeat Method emphasizes the low facilitator-to-child ratio so children receive individual attention, feedback, and interaction as they play the games and develop core social skills. The Hunter Heartbeat Method is described in greater detail in Mehling et al [17] and in the intervention's published manual by Hunter [18].…”

Section: Hunter Heartbeat Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some preliminary research data on drama-based social skills interventions was published by Mehling et al [17] examining the effects of participation in a Shakespearian theatre intervention using the Hunter Heartbeat Method. These authors examined the effects of the Hunter Heartbeat Method (HHM) on certain behavioral features associated with ASD including social engagement, expressive communication, facial emotion expression recognition, and pragmatic language.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, this study had the following aims: 1) replication of pilot study finding demonstrating ability of participation in the Hunter Heartbeat Method to impact core symptoms of ASD; 2) extension of the duration of the intervention from 14 weeks to 1.5 academic years to gain further insight regarding optimal intervention dose; 3) exploration of differences in symptom profile and characteristics of intervention responders and non-responders to offer insight regarding children for whom this intervention may be most effective. Furthermore, this study piloted a shift in intervention delivery modality from delivery as an after-school activity to delivery embedded within the school day [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shakespeare and Autism: A Pilot Study Examining the Treatment Effects and Predictors of Treatment Response of the Hunter Heartbeat Method

Mehling¹,

Tassé²,

Andridge³

2017

Autism Open Access

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This pilot study was designed to explore the potential impact of participation in the Hunter Heartbeat Method, a drama-based social skills intervention, on the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A sample of 10 children with ASD participated in this study. Children were assessed at three time-points: before the start of the intervention (T1), after 14 weeks of participation (T2) and after 42 weeks of participation (T3). Findings from this pilot study indicated that the Hunter Heartbeat Method (HHM) is an intervention that shows promise in impacting social, communication and facial emotion recognition deficits associated with ASD. We also identified the individual characteristics of the participants who were responders and non-responders to the HHM intervention. The results of these findings are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hunter Heartbeat Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shakespeare and Autism: A Pilot Study Examining the Treatment Effects and Predictors of Treatment Response of the Hunter Heartbeat Method

Mehling¹,

Tassé²,

Andridge³

2017

Autism Open Access

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“…First of all, the use of theater to improve social skills is explored, as it has been documented that it is a practice that can enhance the behavioral and social environment of young adults with ASD ( Corbett et al, 2016 ). Some of the best known theater projects used with this population are the Shakespeare Heartbeat project ( Mehling et al, 2016 ; Loftis, 2019 ), the Miracle Project ( Kim and Boyns, 2015 ; Feinstein, 2016 ; Ferguson, 2019 ) and the SENSE Theater approach ( Corbett et al, 2014 , 2019 ). In Costa Rica Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) engaged in a similar project which resulted in the creation of the Rompecabezas Theater Group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Fabrication and Theater: Developing Social Skills in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Poveda

Montoya

2021

Front. Psychol.

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An action research project was carried out, using theater workshops and basic digital fabrication technology workshops to improve social skills—such as the expression of emotions, communication, self-control, and teamwork—in a group of 10 young individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This article focuses on the digital fabrication workshops, where participants worked on the fundamentals of electronics and programming, as well as 3D design and printing, to make props that were later used on stage in the theatrical performances in which they participated. These workshops were systematized through observation guides. According to the results, it was evident that the participants not only enjoyed and gained technological knowledge, but that their social skill development needs were addressed. Professionals from the Special Education Faculty and the Fab Lab Kä Träre, both from Universidad Estatal a Distancia in Costa Rica, were in charge of the study during its first phase, executed in 2016 and 2017.

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Performance- and Theater-Based Interventions for Supporting Social Cognition and Social Communication in Autistic Youth: A Review and Theoretical Synthesis

et al. 2022

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Social skills interventions (SSIs) are commonly used to improve social functioning in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is a condition characterized by differences in social cognition and social communication. Although more traditional SSIs have used knowledge-based, didactic instruction, recent research has explored the utility of performance-based SSIs, which use various activities to support implicit learning of social skills in supportive, enriched environments. This article reviews the extant literature evaluating the effectiveness or efficacy of five performance-based SSIs using theater-based approaches on social cognition and social communication. Overall, this body of literature suggests social communication gains that include increased peer interactions, peer liking, and reciprocal friendships, as well as social cognitive gains in theory of mind and affect recognition. This review also discusses theoretical models that may help explain the emerging strengths of performance- and theater-based SSIs with underlying hypotheses related to the social communication and social cognitive differences in ASD. Limitations of performance-based SSIs in the evidence-base include several approaches in initial stages of research with small sample sizes and limited maintenance of effects. Future research should aim to bridge the research-to-practice gap and use more rigorous designs and more diverse samples, including those with cooccurring intellectual disability.

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Shakespeare and autism: an exploratory evaluation of the Hunter Heartbeat Method

Cited by 9 publications

References 22 publications

Shakespeare and Autism: A Pilot Study Examining the Treatment Effects and Predictors of Treatment Response of the Hunter Heartbeat Method

Shakespeare and Autism: A Pilot Study Examining the Treatment Effects and Predictors of Treatment Response of the Hunter Heartbeat Method

Digital Fabrication and Theater: Developing Social Skills in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Performance- and Theater-Based Interventions for Supporting Social Cognition and Social Communication in Autistic Youth: A Review and Theoretical Synthesis

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