Assistive technology encourages an increase in the learning result for autistic individuals with distinct development delays.
Small Steps Big Dreams in Dubai, UAE, adheres to assisting families with autistic children with knowledge of up to date treatments and other methodologies. According to our research, assistive technology makes use of devices that may help autistic children engage in an experiment to work through their behavior therapy. Digital art and expressive mediums in apps can help children with their speech delay as well.
Benefits of Assistive Technology
One of the most crucial reasons for Assistive Technology (AT) is its ability to help the standard autistic community convey their emotions and/or feelings.
In light of various researches, it’s been estimated that as many as 40% of people with autism are known to be non-verbal.
It may or may not be an exaggeration. Needless to say, the truth remains that most autistic individuals have struggled with vocal communication. In the same range, the majority have an issue with being able to communicate in general terms.
This is where AT comes in with its innovative functions to help make it easier for people on the spectrum.
- Majority of the autistic children are pictorial thinkers. Using AT they may access the visual graphics, aiding them in focusing for large periods of time.
- Apps based on AT are precisely formulated and constructed for therapeutic purposes and special education. Moreover, activities are centred around speech delay and any other life skill that can be improved through behaviour therapy.
- Autistic children at times present a struggle with fine motor skills- written work can prove to be a very frustrating cycle. The alternative for this may be a touchscreen or speech-to-text app. Either of these can extensively reduce the frustration, keeping the focus on enhancing and strengthening their learning skills.
- A child who may show complication in sequencing abilities might not be able to comprehend in what order tasks must be conducted and/or finalised. In cases like these, software with sequencing skills may benefit children with neurological disorders.
- Through treatment plans such as ABA or CBT, the aim of behaviour therapy is to help children with limited verbal proficiency to live as independently as possible. We can make use of Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) in assisting autistic individuals express themselves.
Types of Autism Friendly Apps
- Autism iHelp: This is a mobile app that helps educate and enhance vocabulary. Basically,there are flash cards or image cards as a medium of behaviour therapy. There are usually 24 portrayals based on real-life and the skills that the autistic children need to learn.
- AutismXpress: This app enables people diagnosed with autism to acknowledge and express feelings with facial expressions. In total, there are twelve cartoon-like buttons, each reflecting emotions like sadness, pain, happiness, etc.
- CommBoards: This is based on the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). It has long worked with digital art and sometimes picture boards, etc. It makes it easier to be able to communicate without having to drag around a separate set of cards and/or a device. What happens is that the program speaks the word associated with the picture. The child is then encouraged to reiterate and slowly, but gradually, memorise the enunciation of the word on their own.
- Aut2Speak: This is a mobile app that is essentially like a keyboard for people on the spectrum, or other neurological conditions, who know how to type. Some autistic people have trouble with writing or grabbing and keeping hold of things. This app makes it easier for them to work, without feeling shut out from the world.
Assistive Technology: the Future of Autism Treatment?
The causes of autism and its treatments are still being looked into. And while it’s still in its early stages, digital methods may just be the new way in improving development delay. Assistive Technology, needless to say, does offer an array of diverse prospects. For autism, we may have to consider the amalgamation of digital tools and traditional in-person clinic visits as the future of autism treatment.