This research intentions to be sure the potency of a separate mobile messaging software entitled MAAN, meaning that together from inside the Arabic, for people with ASD, having fun with pre-post data study. The purpose of MAAN is always to bring an easily accessible, safer, and simple-to-fool around with chatting application getting grownups having ASD and therefore help the introduction for the area. Contained in this study, we hypothesized the next: (1) The latest use of features of mobile software (text-to-message [TTS], speech-to-text [STT], and you may communication signs [CS]), being put on MAAN, can enhance new personal and you may communication knowledge out of people having ASD; and you may (2) The effective use of this new software can aid in reducing public loneliness when you look at the adults that have ASD.
Investigation Framework
A combined methods means try then followed inside research. Eight adults having ASD was in fact requested to use MAAN using their caregivers having 16 days. Ahead of the framework and you will growth of MAAN, semistructured interview was held with advantages to go over the fresh first proposed application structure. The fresh new application framework ended up being modified with regards to the acquired views. Then, grownups having ASD as well as their mothers otherwise caregivers have been requested in order to fool around with MAAN getting a period of sixteen days. It course is actually accompanied about analysis by the Laugeson mais aussi al , which suggested when researching social and interaction event interventions, improve is only obvious at the sixteen days. The research already been by calling some body prepared to take part. Because of COVID-19, the initial conferences into players was basically used online. The players obtained a message to have outlining the research pointers, such as for example time and date, and you can an effective weblink to possess meeting told consent getting a virtual meeting towards the people, their friends, as well as their parents. Immediately following receiving the fresh new participants’ concur, these were questioned in order to complete an internet prestudy survey under control to collect demographical recommendations. The parents otherwise caregivers of one’s members was and additionally asked so you’re able to over a preliminary variety of the fresh Public and Mental Loneliness Measure to possess People (SELSA-S) questionnaire . The aim of that it survey were to dictate this new societal and you will family loneliness of your professionals. In a virtual meeting, the principal specialist said brand new app has in more detail and you may replied next questions about the study. The participants was in fact plus provided by a hotline so you’re able to statement people situation they could face in this research. To ensure the continuity of information range, the players was in fact requested with the intention that the brand new app was always powering regarding the background.
After the analysis, every members with ASD and their caregivers or parents finished this new Mobile Software Rating Measure: representative adaptation (uMARS) questionnaire. The brand new uMARS is a simple and credible equipment that can be utilized by end-users to evaluate the standard of mobile fitness applications. It includes a good 20-goods size including 4 purpose top quality subscales (engagement, capabilities, esthetics, and you can advice top quality) and you may step 1 subjective quality subscale. The intention of this survey would be to measure the app’s high quality when it comes to features. The new participants’ parents or caregivers and finished the brand new SELSA-S survey once more to find the participants’ public and you may family unit members loneliness pricing following analysis. Lastly, an excellent semistructured interviews having parents or caregivers was conducted to gather information about the newest context away from app usage. The latest interviews incorporated questions about all round application expertise in terminology San sebastian bride of usability, capability, and you can demands came across while using the application, together with strategies for subsequent enhancement.
MAAN Application Structure and Innovation
The brand new app contains the second 3 main has actually: TTS, STT, and you will CS. Among really-known provides that may even be regarded as a type of assistive technology is new TTS element, which enables pages to listen created text towards the a computer, pill, or track people striving for the discovering and you will decoding terminology . Furthermore, STT are an assistive tech ability employed by those who challenge having writing. This style of assistive technology allows speech to be changed into text utilising the measuring equipment. Both keeps are particularly commonly employed to service addition knowledge settings . The latest application and additionally incorporated the CS feature, which is an essential part away from AAC-served technology, and its primary purpose should be to assist people who have ASD during the developing sentences. We are really not aware of people messaging software you to supports new use of the CS element. TAWASOL signs was useful this new CS function. They certainly were developed in 2013 from the Mada Cardiovascular system, a keen assistive tech heart within the Qatar. This type of symbols depict the modern Practical Arabic vocabulary and they are customized become culturally, socially, consistently, and you can linguistically acceptable. TAWASOL will be based upon new AAC Signs Range which will be directed so you can nonverbal otherwise minimally spoken people who require solution telecommunications alternatives .
