This study intentions to ensure the effectiveness of a special mobile messaging software entitled MAAN, and thus together for the Arabic, to possess people that have ASD, using pre-post investigation studies. The aim of MAAN will be to offer an easily accessible, secure, and simple-to-have fun with messaging software getting grownups having ASD and therefore help their addition within the people. Contained in this investigation, i hypothesized next: (1) The new the means to access top features of cellular applications (text-to-message [TTS], speech-to-text [STT], and you may telecommunications icons [CS]), being used on MAAN, can raise the newest social and you will communications enjoy out of grownups which have ASD; and you may (2) Using new app can reduce social loneliness for the adults with ASD.
Investigation Build
A blended methods strategy are followed contained in this study. 7 people that have ASD had been asked to utilize MAAN employing caregivers having 16 weeks. Ahead of the structure and you will growth of MAAN, semistructured interviews were used with pros to go over the brand new preliminary suggested application construction. The newest software framework ended up being changed with regards to the obtained views. Next, people with ASD in addition to their moms and dads or caregivers was in fact requested to help you explore MAAN for a period of sixteen days. This duration try implemented in the research from the Laugeson mais aussi al , and this advised that when searching personal and you can telecommunications event treatments, update is just clear from the 16 months. The analysis come from the getting in touch with individuals prepared to engage. Because of COVID-19, the initial conferences into the players had been used online. All of the players received a message for describing the analysis information, including time and date, and a weblink to have meeting informed concur to own a virtual fulfilling into people, people they know, in addition to their mothers. Once getting brand new participants’ agree, these were questioned so you’re able to complete an internet prestudy questionnaire in order to gather demographical recommendations. The mother and father or caregivers of users was and requested so you’re able to done an initial style of the Public and Mental Loneliness Scale to own People (SELSA-S) survey . The aim of that it questionnaire was to influence the societal and household members loneliness of users. In an online fulfilling, the primary specialist told me the new software has in more detail and answered then questions about the research. The players was basically together with available with good hotline so you can declaration people matter they may deal with during this research. To ensure the continuity of information collection, the participants had been questioned so the software is actually constantly running in the record.
At the conclusion of the study, all professionals with ASD as well as their caregivers or moms and dads finished the fresh Cellular App Get Scale: user type (uMARS) survey. The fresh new uMARS is a simple and legitimate device which may be employed by prevent-profiles to evaluate the grade of mobile health programs. It includes a 20-item level that includes cuatro objective top quality subscales (engagement, possibilities, esthetics, and you will guidance top quality) and you will 1 subjective high quality subscale. The reason for that it survey is always to assess the app’s quality in terms of function. Brand new participants’ moms and dads or caregivers in addition to done this new SELSA-S questionnaire once again to search for the participants’ social and relatives loneliness costs following the study. Finally, a semistructured interview that have parents otherwise caregivers is actually presented to collect facts about the fresh framework out of software use. Brand new interviews incorporated questions about all round software knowledge of terminology out of features, capabilities, and you may pressures found when using the software, and suggestions for after that improvement.
MAAN App Build and you can Advancement
New application consisted of the following step three fundamental has: TTS, STT, and you will CS. One of many better-known have that can also be considered as a form of assistive technology is the TTS element, which enables profiles to listen to created text message to the a computer, tablet, otherwise tune some one struggling in the understanding and you may decoding words . Also, STT try a keen assistive tech feature employed by people who endeavor that have composing. This form of assistive technology allows speech getting turned into text message using the calculating tool. Each other keeps are extremely commonly employed to help introduction studies options . The new app together with integrated the CS ability, that’s an essential part away from AAC-supported tech, and its particular top mission is always to let those with ASD when you look at the building sentences. We are really not familiar with one messaging software you to aids the newest use of the CS element. TAWASOL signs was indeed employed for the new CS feature. These people were designed in 2013 by the Mada Cardio, an enthusiastic assistive mjesto za upoznavanje Japanski Еѕena tech center when you look at the Qatar. These signs represent the present day Important Arabic code as they are tailored getting culturally, socially, consistently, and you will linguistically acceptable. TAWASOL is dependant on the AAC Icons Collection and that’s directed so you’re able to nonverbal or minimally spoken people that require solution correspondence selection .