This research plans to be sure the potency of a separate mobile chatting software entitled MAAN, for example together within the Arabic, having adults with ASD, having fun with pre-blog post research study. The goal of MAAN should be to render an obtainable, safe, and simple-to-use messaging software having adults having ASD so because of this support its introduction when you look at the community. Within study, we hypothesized the following: (1) The fresh new entry to attributes of mobile programs (text-to-speech [TTS], speech-to-text [STT], and you will correspondence icons [CS]), which are placed on MAAN, can enhance brand new personal and you can communication skills off grownups with ASD; and (2) The usage the software can reduce personal loneliness inside grownups that have ASD.
Study Design
A blended steps approach are then followed contained in this data. Eight adults with ASD had been requested to make use of MAAN with the caregivers to possess 16 weeks. Ahead of the structure and you may development of MAAN, semistructured interviews was basically used having gurus to discuss the fresh first advised software framework. The new application construction ended up being modified depending on the gotten opinions. After that, people that have ASD and their er ГҐpne forhold sunne mothers or caregivers were requested so you’re able to explore MAAN for a time period of 16 days. This period is actually accompanied throughout the research of the Laugeson mais aussi al , which ideal whenever receiving public and you can communication skills interventions, update is evident within sixteen weeks. The research become by getting in touch with people prepared to take part. Due to COVID-19, the first meetings into the participants were held on line. The players gotten an email to own outlining the study guidance, like date and time, and you may a good weblink for meeting told agree getting a virtual appointment toward professionals, people they know, in addition to their moms and dads. After receiving the newest participants’ concur, these were asked to help you complete an internet prestudy questionnaire manageable to gather demographical recommendations. The mother and father or caregivers of your own people were along with asked in order to complete a preliminary kind of this new Social and you will Emotional Loneliness Size to possess People (SELSA-S) questionnaire . The aim of this questionnaire would be to dictate the newest personal and you will nearest and dearest loneliness of participants. From inside the an online fulfilling, the main researcher told me brand new application has actually in detail and you will responded after that questions about the study. The players had been including available with an excellent hotline so you can report one procedure they could face during this analysis. To ensure the continuity of data collection, the players was indeed expected making sure that the latest software are always powering regarding records.
At the conclusion of the analysis, all the professionals which have ASD in addition to their caregivers or parents complete the latest Cellular Application Rating Scale: associate type (uMARS) survey. Brand new uMARS is an easy and you will reputable unit and this can be employed by avoid-pages to evaluate the grade of mobile wellness programs. It gives an effective 20-product level detailed with 4 goal quality subscales (involvement, features, esthetics, and you can suggestions high quality) and you may step one subjective quality subscale. The purpose of this questionnaire is to measure the app’s quality regarding functionality. The new participants’ parents otherwise caregivers together with complete the fresh new SELSA-S survey once again to select the participants’ personal and loved ones loneliness costs adopting the investigation. Lastly, a beneficial semistructured interviews having parents or caregivers is actually used to collect information regarding the latest framework off app usage. This new interview provided questions relating to the entire application knowledge of conditions regarding functionality, features, and demands encountered while using the software, also strategies for after that improvement.
MAAN App Structure and you can Invention
New software contained another 3 main has actually: TTS, STT, and CS. One of several better-known provides that even be regarded as a form of assistive technologies are the fresh TTS function, which enables pages to know composed text message into a computer, pill, or song someone struggling in understanding and you can decoding terminology . Also, STT is actually an enthusiastic assistive technical feature employed by those who strive having composing. This style of assistive technical allows message to get changed into text by using the calculating equipment. Each other enjoys are are not employed to assistance introduction training configurations . The fresh new software plus incorporated this new CS feature, which is an essential part out-of AAC-offered technology, and its particular top goal is to assist individuals with ASD inside building sentences. We are not aware of one chatting software one to supports the latest use of the CS ability. TAWASOL icons was indeed employed for the fresh CS function. These people were developed in 2013 by the Mada Heart, an assistive technology heart in Qatar. This type of icons portray the modern Basic Arabic words and are usually designed becoming culturally, socially, consistently, and linguistically acceptable. TAWASOL is founded on this new AAC Signs Range that is led to nonverbal or minimally spoken people who need solution interaction options .
