Benefits and Risks: A Systematic Review of Information and Communication Technology Use by Autistic People.

Area of Science:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Communication Studies

Background:

• Internet communication is integral to daily life, including for autistic individuals.
• Research on autistic people's use of information and communication technology (ICT) has been ongoing since the early 2000s.
• A systematic review was lacking to consolidate existing findings on ICT use among autistic populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on how autistic individuals utilize ICT for communication.
• To establish a framework for understanding the contributions, identify gaps, and explore future opportunities in this research area.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.
• Searches were conducted across five databases for studies on ICT communication use by autistic youth and adults.
• Included studies were reviewed for eligibility and assessed for methodological quality.

Main Results:

• Thirty-two studies (19 quantitative, 12 qualitative, 1 mixed-methods) involving 3026 autistic individuals were included.
• The evidence base is considered emergent, with underrepresentation of autistic women, non-White individuals, and those with co-occurring disabilities.
• Key themes included variations in ICT communication, experienced benefits and drawbacks, and engagement in online autism communities.

Conclusions:

• Further research on online autism communities can inform strengths-based interventions.
• Investigating ICT use in relation to sexuality is crucial for online safety.
• More research is needed on underrepresented autistic groups to confirm and expand findings.