Teaching Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to Answer Questions Using an iPad-Based Speech-Generating Device

GENÇ TOSUN D., KURT O., CEVHER Z., Gregori E. V.

JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, vol.53, no.9, pp.3724-3739, 2023 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 53 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10803-022-05683-z
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, PASCAL, BIOSIS, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index
  • Page Numbers: pp.3724-3739
  • Keywords: Speech genereting device, iPad, Autism spectrum disorder, Answering question, Multi-step navigation, DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES, ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION, INDIVIDUALS, INTERVENTIONS, PRESCHOOLERS, METAANALYSIS, ACQUISITION, STUDENTS, BOYS
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study investigated whether a systematic instruction package was effective in child acquisition of question answering using an iPad-based speech generating device (SGD). The study was conducted with two children with autism using a multiple probe across behaviors design. Results demonstrated that the systematic instruction package consisting of graduated guidance, discrete trial teaching, time delay, and reinforcement resulted in acquisition of answering all questions. Follow-up data were collected one, three, and five weeks after instruction ended. For all participants, skills maintained during follow-up and generalized to novel settings and skills. Social validity data were also collected and indicated that teachers without experience using SGDs found them to be effective and feasible for teaching communication skills.