Incorporating Visual Scene Display Augmentative and Alternative Communication Supports Into Naturalistic...

Area of Science:

• Speech and Language Pathology
• Developmental Psychology
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) show promise for early language development in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Children with ASD and minimal speech often struggle to benefit from traditional NDBIs focused on speech production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if adding visual scene display (VSD) augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to NDBI procedures enhances communication in young children with ASD and minimal speech.
• To assess the impact of VSD AAC on symbolic communicative turns and the rate of unique concepts expressed.

Main Methods:

• A single-case, multiple-probe across-participants design was employed.
• The study integrated VSD AAC supports with just-in-time programming and aided AAC input into NDBI procedures.
• The context was interactive storybook reading.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated an increase in symbolic communicative turns per session with the addition of VSD AAC supports.
• Participants showed a more rapid acquisition of new expressive vocabulary when VSD AAC was incorporated.
• Individual variation in response to the intervention was observed.

Conclusions:

• Integrating VSD-based aided AAC systems into NDBIs can significantly improve communication frequency and expressive vocabulary for children with ASD and minimal speech.
• These findings suggest VSD AAC is a valuable tool for supporting beginning communicators within NDBI frameworks.
• The combined approach offers benefits beyond traditional NDBI procedures alone.