Effects of a game application for speaking competency of autism children using picture exchange communication system process

Autism is a developmental disorder in children characterized by an inability to develop appropriate social and communication skills for their age. Part of promoting development in autistic children is fostering appropriate play. This research aims to 1) Develop a game application using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) process to promote speech abilities in autistic children, 2) Study the effectiveness index of the game application using the PECS process, 3) Observe learning behaviors during gameplay, and 4) Assess satisfaction after playing the game. The sample group consisted of five required support children selected by purposive sampling. The research instruments included 1) the game application that was developed using the PECS process, 2) a quality assessment form for the application, 3) a speech ability test, 4) an observation form for learning behaviors, and 5) a satisfaction questionnaire post-gameplay. Statistical methods used were percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The research results showed that the effectiveness index of the game application developed using the PECS process was 0.8701, indicating an 87.01% improvement in speech abilities in autistic children. Satisfaction after gameplay was at the highest level, indicating that the game application using the PECS process effectively promotes speech abilities in autistic children.