Brief report: preliminary evaluation of the theory of mind inventory and its relationship to measures of social skills.

Researchers asked 30 parents of teens with ASD to fill out the Theory of Mind Inventory.

Parents rated how well their child understands others' thoughts and feelings.

The team then compared these scores to standard social-skills tests and autism symptom checklists.

Lower ToMI scores matched bigger social-skills gaps.

Higher ToMI scores matched milder autism symptoms.

The parent tool tracked real-world social problems in adolescents.

Kasari et al. (2011) showed most high-functioning ASD students sit on the edge of classroom networks. Kangas et al. (2011) gives you a quick parent survey that flags the same social struggles Connie saw.

Bauminger et al. (2003) found these teens talk to peers half as often and feel twice as lonely. The ToMI scores line up with Nirit's loneliness reports, so parents can spot risk early.

Liu et al. (2023) linked weak facial mimicry to poor theory of mind in younger kids. Kangas et al. (2011) extends this link to adolescents using parent report instead of lab sensors.

You now have a 10-minute parent form that predicts social gaps in teens with ASD. Use it during intake to pick targets like peer initiation or loneliness reduction before you even run a social skills group.