AP22705

Autism

A professor at UCLA along with researchers at Vanderbilt University and the Kennedy Krieger Institute, initiated a three year trial, which tested to see if "personalized interventions" and the use of tablets would help autistic children gain communication skills. To begin the study, 61 autistic children from ages 5-8 were gathered that had a low range of verbal communication. These children received six straight months of continuous, specialized therapy, which focused on language, playing skills, and "social communication gestures." About half of these children got the advantage of being able to work alongside a therapist, who assisted them in using speech-incorporated apps on a tablet. At least three months was dedicated to these thirty-some children listening to the audio that was associated with different images shown on the screen. Researchers discovered that this half of the kids were more prone to spontaneously using language. "Childrenwho received the behavioral intervention along with the tablet to support their communication attempts made much faster progress in learning to communicate, and especially in using spoken language", says Kasari, a professor of psychiatry and human development at UCLA. Follow up visits were made with each of the children and it seems that all progress has been maintained.

References: "Personalized approach enhances communication skills in children with autism." //ScienceDaily//. ScienceDaily, 17 July 2014. Web. 19 July 2014. .

Wheeler, Mark, and Kathy Wyer. "UCLA-led study finds personalized approach enhances communication skills in children with autism." . UCLA, 16 July 2014. Web. 19 July 2014. .

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