G Özyurt, Ç Dinsever Elİküçük

Abstract

Using a computer-based voice output communication aid (VOCA) device, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication systems for autistic symptoms, language features and emotion regulation of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD's). The child and adolescent psychiatrist (an experienced clinician) diagnosed the children as ASD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM 5) and clinical observation and follow up. Forty-two children (36-72 months old) diagnosed with ASD participated in the study. Subjects were randomised into two groups (Twenty-one children were in the intervention group and 21 children were in the control group) and the first group received the augmentative and alternative communication systems treatment while the second received routine treatment. The socio-demographic features of groups were similar and children who were part of the experimental group showed improvements in receptive and expressive language skills, had better emotion regulation skills and their autistic symptoms decreased. Furthermore, the experimental group's mean length of utterance and language sample size increased. This study provided preliminary evidence that augmentative and alternative communication systems using computer-based voice output communication aids, which are portable and simple, may help children diagnosed with ASD develop communication and language skills.

摘要：本研究使用電腦的語音輸出溝通輔助裝置（voice output communication aid device，VOCA），評估輔助及另類溝通系統對自閉症譜系障礙（Autism Spectrum Disorders，ASD）症狀、語言特徵和情緒調節的效能。一位富經驗的兒童及青少年精神科醫生根據第五版《精神疾病診斷與統計手冊》（Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition，DSM 5）、臨床觀察及隨訪，作為診斷這些兒童的指標。42名被診斷為ASD的兒童（36-72月齡）參與了這項研究。研究對象被隨機分為兩組（干預組21例，對照組21例），第一組接受輔助及另類溝通系統治療，第二組則接受常規治療。兩組的社會人口特徵相似，實驗組的部份兒童在語言接受和表達技能方面有所提高，有更好的情緒調節技能，他們的自閉症症狀有所減輕。而且，實驗組的平均話語長度和語言樣本容量均有所增加。本研究初步證明，使用電腦的語音輸出溝通輔助裝置的輔助及另類溝通系統，可以幫助ASD兒童發展溝通和語言技能。