This research intends to verify the effectiveness of a separate cellular chatting application named “MAAN,” which means “together” from inside the Arabic, to possess people that have ASD, using pre-article data research. The aim of MAAN is to give an accessible, safe, and simple-to-explore chatting application to possess grownups that have ASD thus support their addition into the people. Inside investigation, i hypothesized the second: (1) This new access to top features of mobile applications (text-to-speech [TTS], speech-to-text message [STT], and communication symbols [CS]), which can be applied to MAAN, can raise the societal and you will correspondence knowledge away from people which have ASD; and you can (2) Employing new software decrease public loneliness inside grownups which have ASD.
Studies Design
A combined strategies strategy is adopted contained in this research. 7 beautiful polish women grownups with ASD was questioned to utilize MAAN employing caregivers to have sixteen weeks. Before the design and you will development of MAAN, semistructured interviews have been used that have benefits to go over the latest first suggested app build. The fresh new software construction was then altered with respect to the gotten viewpoints. Following, people with ASD as well as their mothers or caregivers had been asked in order to play with MAAN to have a period of sixteen months. Which duration is adopted about data by Laugeson mais aussi al , hence suggested when acquiring personal and you can communication event treatments, update is only obvious on 16 days. The research started by contacting somebody happy to participate. Because of COVID-19, the original meetings to the users was indeed held on line. The professionals received a message getting detailing the research suggestions, like date and time, and you can good weblink to possess meeting told consent to possess an online appointment towards participants, their friends, as well as their moms and dads. Once acquiring the fresh participants’ agree, they were expected so you can fill an on-line prestudy survey in order to get demographical advice. The parents or caregivers of the players were and asked so you can done an initial version of the new Personal and you may Emotional Loneliness Measure to own Adults (SELSA-S) questionnaire . The aim of so it questionnaire were to dictate the latest social and you may family members loneliness of members. From inside the an online conference, the primary researcher explained the newest application have in more detail and you may replied then questions regarding the research. The players were in addition to provided by a beneficial hotline to declaration any thing they may face with this study. To be sure the continuity of data range, the players was questioned to ensure that the brand new application are always running on the history.
At the conclusion of the study, every professionals with ASD as well as their caregivers or moms and dads complete the new Mobile Software Rating Measure: member version (uMARS) survey. The newest uMARS is a straightforward and reliable equipment which is often utilized by prevent-profiles to assess the caliber of mobile wellness apps. It gives an effective 20-item measure filled with cuatro objective high quality subscales (engagement, effectiveness, esthetics, and you can advice high quality) and step one subjective top quality subscale. The reason for so it questionnaire would be to measure the app’s quality when it comes to efficiency. New participants’ moms and dads or caregivers plus accomplished the new SELSA-S questionnaire once again to select the participants’ societal and you can family loneliness pricing pursuing the data. Lastly, an effective semistructured interview having mothers or caregivers are used to gather details about the latest framework out-of application use. New interview included questions relating to the general software experience in terminology of usability, capabilities, and you may challenges discovered when using the software, and additionally strategies for then enhancement.
MAAN App Framework and you will Development
The brand new app consisted of next step three fundamental enjoys: TTS, STT, and you can CS. Among really-identified enjoys that can additionally be considered as a type of assistive technology is the new TTS feature, that allows pages to learn written text into the a pc, pill, or tune people stressed inside the studying and you may decryption terminology . Also, STT are a keen assistive technical function used by individuals who strive having creating. This form of assistive technology lets address as turned into text message with the computing tool. Both has are extremely aren’t utilized to help addition knowledge configurations . The fresh app plus included the latest CS function, that’s an essential part of AAC-supported tech, and its particular number one purpose will be to help people who have ASD within the design sentences. We are really not familiar with one chatting application one helps the fresh new utilization of the CS function. “TAWASOL signs” have been employed for the newest CS element. These were designed in 2013 by Mada Cardiovascular system, a keen assistive technology heart when you look at the Qatar. These symbols represent the current Basic Arabic words and so are tailored as culturally, socially, consistently, and you can linguistically appropriate. TAWASOL will be based upon the brand new AAC Signs Range which will be directed so you’re able to nonverbal or minimally verbal people that need solution telecommunications possibilities .