Emory Dyssemia Index (EDI)

The Emory Dyssemia Index (EDI) aims to help assess dysfunctional nonverbal social communication or dyssemia. This scale was originally developed by Elizabeth Love, Stephen Nowicki, and Marshall Duke of Emory University in 1994. This tool can screen students who are observed to have interpersonal problems due to the inability to recognize and aptly respond to nonverbal cues. It can also be a basis of educators when creating an Individualized Education Platform (IEP) for the child. The instrument looks into the following areas of concern: gaze and eye contact, space and touch, paralanguage, facial expression, fashion sense and grooming, hand gestures, social rules and norms, nonverbal receptivity, conversation skills, and use of time.