Empirical Analysis of a Card Game Designed to Promote Consumer-Related Social Competence Among Hearing-Impaired Youth

A number of authors have noted the high incidence of social skill deficiencies associated with hearing-impaired learners. Although the literature frequently includes information regarding the proportions of the problem, there is a notable absence of empirical demonstrations that facilitate the development of prosocial responses. The present study investigated the efficacy of a social skill training program designed to enhance four consumer-related interpersonal skills. Program components included a card game, modeling, feedback, contingent reinforcement, and behavior rehearsal. A multiple-baseline-across-subjects research design was used to demonstrate the effect of these procedures on trained and untrained responses for four hearing-impaired adolescents. In addition, data from covert natural environment assessment suggested that newly acquired skills generalized outside the training setting.