Speech-generating devices: effectiveness of interface design—a comparative study of autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Background We analyzed the efficacy of the interface design of speech generating devices on three non-verbal adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in hopes of improving their on-campus communication and cognitive disability. The intervention program was created based on their social and communication needs in school. Two operating interfaces were designed and compared: the Hierarchical Relating Menu and the Pie Abbreviation-Expansion Menu.Methods The experiment used the ABCACB multiple-treatment reversal design. The test items included: (1) accuracy of operating identification; (2) interface operation in response to questions; (3) degree of independent completion. Each of these three items improved with both intervention interfaces.ResultsThe children were able to operate the interfaces skillfully and respond to questions accurately, which evidenced the effectiveness of the interfaces.ConclusionsWe conclude that both interfaces are efficacious enough to help nonverbal children with ASD at different levels.

Um Processo de Design de Interface com foco em Usuários com Transtorno do Espectro Autista: Uma Experiência Prática

“…Os usuários demostraram interesse e não apresentaram grandes dificuldades na utilização [28,29]. Para os outros dois, foram desenvolvidos protótipos de perspectivas diferentes para determinar a melhor proposta de acordo com as necessidades do usuário [30,31].…”

ChilDiBu – A Mobile Application for Bulgarian Children with Special Educational Needs

“…The effectiveness of the picture-based systems on the speech development of the children with disorders, in particular children with Autistic spectrum disorders, has been studied and analyzed in [29]. The article by Chen et al has shown that both types, the speech-generating devices and the picture-based systems, are equally effective and can be applied in clinical practice.…”