The latest studies from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) in the United States have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, symptoms can vary drastically. At one end are individuals who are mildly impaired and may be able to perform activities of daily living with little support. At the other end are those with severe autism, characterized by extreme withdrawal from their surroundings with an inability to care for themselves. However, the emergence of new technologies has made great strides in helping those afflicted. Dr. Rebecca M. Jones, a neuroscientist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Autism and the Developing Brain in White Plains discusses the ways technology is used to help those with autism to communicate, learn, and interact.
Q: Why is assistive technology helpful for people with autism?
Many individuals with autism have difficulties with communicating, thus assistive technologies often provide a bridge between parents/caregivers/teachers and the individual. For example, there are many applications on an iPad, tablet or smartphone that have pictures that, when touched, will say the word corresponding to the picture. Some individuals with ASD who have limited language abilities may have a much easier time communicating their needs through such a picture system. The assistive technology on an iPad or tablet is much easier and more convenient than carrying a binder of pictures, which was common practice before mobile technologies.
Q: How does technology help those with ASD with basic life skills?
It is important to consider that some individuals with ASD are particularly motivated by mobile technologies and this enhances the learning opportunities that these devices can provide. For example, it can help improve motor coordination (like handwriting), or can teach a new skill. Combining multiple ways to learn is critical and can be done using a combination of prompting by a teacher/therapist, pictures on the tablet, writing on paper, or audio/visual instruction from a tablet. Therapies that target learning a new skill, whether it is toilet training or learning how to make copies from a copy machine, have always largely relied on visual aids. Assistive technologies provide these visuals in an easy and accessible format. There are even computer applications that have proven helpful in navigating tricky social situations, which is an area of difficulty for individuals on the spectrum. It should be stressed however that mobile technologies should not replace interacting with another individual, as this is always the preferred method of communication.
Q: How can technology help children become more confident learners?
Technology is increasingly being used in classrooms or therapy sessions and provides individuals with skills and tools that they can literally carry with them wherever they go. If a therapist uses an assistive device in the clinic to help teach communication skills, the individual ideally can use this device at home or in the community — directly applying the skills that they learned.
Q: Are assistive technologies appropriate for all individuals on the autism spectrum disorder?
There are a wide variety of applications that are available for individuals on the spectrum from toddlers through adulthood that target a range of skills and abilities.
Q: How do you see technologies evolving to better help those with autism?
I am interested in how we can use technologies to better capture behaviors that occur outside of a clinical or home setting. From a research perspective, we are often limited by what we can study in the laboratory. So while mobile technology can provide many new resources for individuals on the spectrum, it is also an immense opportunity to collect important information. For example, we can use the GPS on a phone to track the movement patterns of individuals. These movement patterns have been shown in other disorders such as depression, to be an important indicator of disease states. We are just starting to think about how we can use mobile devices to better understand autism. As a researcher, I find it remarkable how quickly new applications and technologies are developed. In many ways the research cannot keep up with the new technology that continues to be available.”
This story is provided and presented by our sponsor: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
By: lohud.com