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Comparing Acquisition of AAC-Based Mands in Three Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using iPad® Applications with Different Display and Design Elements

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Abstract

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) applications may differ in their use of display and design elements. Using a multielement design, this study compared mand acquisition in three preschool-aged males with autism spectrum disorder, across three different displays in two iPad® AAC applications. Displays included a Widgit symbol button (GoTalk), a photographical hotspot (Scene and Heard), and a Widgit symbol button along with a photograph (Scene and Heard). Applications had additional design differences. Two participants showed more rapid and consistent acquisition with the photographical hotspot than with the symbol button format, but did not master the combined format. The third participant mastered all three conditions at comparable rates. Results suggest that AAC display and design elements may influence mand acquisition.

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Acknowledgments

No financial funding was used to support this study. Data from this study has been submitted for a research symposium at the Applied Behavior Analysis International conference to be held in May of 2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, D5300, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Cindy Gevarter, Mark F. O’Reilly, Laura Rojeski & Nicolette Sammarco

  2. Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Jeff Sigafoos

  3. University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Giulio E. Lancioni

  4. Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Russell Lang

Authors
  1. Cindy Gevarter
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  2. Mark F. O’Reilly
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  3. Laura Rojeski
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  4. Nicolette Sammarco
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  5. Jeff Sigafoos
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  6. Giulio E. Lancioni
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  7. Russell Lang
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Correspondence to Cindy Gevarter.

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Gevarter, C., O’Reilly, M.F., Rojeski, L. et al. Comparing Acquisition of AAC-Based Mands in Three Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using iPad® Applications with Different Display and Design Elements. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 2464–2474 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2115-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2115-9

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