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Literacy in nonspeaking autistic people
Vikram K Jaswal1, Andrew J Lampi1, Kayden M Stockwell1
1University of Virginia, USA.
Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice
|February 21, 2024
Summary
Many nonspeaking autistic individuals can learn spelling skills. This study shows they can learn to tap letters to form words, potentially enabling communication through typing.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Background:
- Many autistic individuals who are nonspeaking face challenges in expressing thoughts and needs.
- This communication barrier can limit educational, social, and vocational opportunities.
- Spelling proficiency is a prerequisite for developing typing-based communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spelling abilities of nonspeaking autistic individuals.
- To determine if nonspeaking autistic individuals can learn and apply spelling rules.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 31 autistic teenagers and adults who are minimally or non-speaking.
- Participants engaged in an iPad-based game requiring them to tap flashing letters.
- Analysis focused on tapping speed and patterns to infer spelling knowledge.
Main Results:
- Participants tapped letters forming meaningful sentences faster than random letter sequences.
- Tapping speed indicated recognition of common letter pairings and spelling patterns.
- Distinct pauses between letter taps suggested awareness of word boundaries.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that many nonspeaking autistic individuals possess the capacity to learn spelling.
- With appropriate support and opportunities, typing may become a viable communication method for this population.
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