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Use of Computer-Assisted Technologies (CAT) to Enhance Social, Communicative, and Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Major advances in multimedia computer technology over the past decades have made sophisticated computer games readily available to the public. This, combined with the observation that most children, including those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), show an affinity to computers, has led researchers to recognize the potential of computer technology as an effective and efficient tool in research and treatment. This paper reviews the use of computer-assisted technology (CAT), excluding strictly internet-based approaches, to enhance social, communicative, and language development in individuals with ASD by dividing the vast literature into four main areas: language, emotion recognition, theory of mind, and social skills. Although many studies illustrate the tremendous promise of CAT to enhance skills of individuals with ASD, most lack rigorous, scientific assessment of efficacy relative to non-CAT approaches.

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Acknowledgments

We express our gratitude to all families and institutions that made our and other research possible. Our research was supported by grants from PSC-CUNY and Language Learning: A Journal of Research in Language Studies.

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  1. Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Bertram O. Ploog, DeShawn Nelson & Patricia J. Brooks

  2. Department of Psychology, 4S-105, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA

    Bertram O. Ploog, Alexa Scharf & Patricia J. Brooks

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Correspondence to Bertram O. Ploog.

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Ploog, B.O., Scharf, A., Nelson, D. et al. Use of Computer-Assisted Technologies (CAT) to Enhance Social, Communicative, and Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 301–322 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1571-3

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