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Cited by 160Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchAssistive Technology in Communication and MobilityChild Development and Digital Technology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 52 of the 52 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

A trial of an iPad ™ intervention targeting social communication skills in children with autism

Open access
Fletcher-Watson, Sue, Petrou, Alexandra, Scott-Barrett, Juliet, Dicks, Pamela, Graham, Catherine, O’Hare, Anne, Pain, Helen, McConachie, Helen·2016·Autism
DOI 10.1177/1362361315605624PMC PMC5015758
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Abstract

This study evaluated a technology-based early intervention for social communication skills in pre-schoolers in a randomised controlled trial. Participants were 54 children aged under 6 years with a diagnosis of autism, assigned to either intervention or control conditions. The app engaged children, who played consistently, regardless of developmental level, and was rated highly by parents. There were no significant group differences in parent-report measures post-intervention, nor in a measure of parent-child play at follow-up. Therefore, this intervention did not have an observable impact on real-world social communication skills and caution is recommended about the potential usefulness of iPad(™) apps for amelioration of difficulties in interaction. However, positive attitudes among participants, lack of harms and the potential of apps to deliver therapeutic content at low economic cost suggest this approach is worth pursuing further, perhaps targeting other skill domains.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1362361315605624

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Figures

Figure 1. CONSORT diagram illustrating participant experience and sample sizes.
Figure 1. CONSORT diagram illustrating participant experience and sample sizes.CC BY-NC · PubMed Central
Figure 2. Screenshots from the FindMe app.
Figure 2. Screenshots from the FindMe app.CC BY-NC · PubMed Central
Figure 3. The relationship between game play (total minutes) and change on the BOSCC primary outcome measure. This figure includes only observed data and not scores derived from imputed values.
Figure 3. The relationship between game play (total minutes) and change on the BOSCC primary outcome measure. This figure includes only observed data and not scores derived from imputed values.CC BY-NC · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Fenson L, 1993, MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory: User’s Guide and Technical Manual

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Metadata

Authors
Fletcher-Watson, S., Petrou, A., Scott-Barrett, J., Dicks, P., Graham, C., O’Hare, A., Pain, H., & McConachie, H.
Affiliations
  • The University of Edinburgh, UK
  • Newcastle University (GB)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • Western General Hospital (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Autism
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2016-07-09
Volume
20
Issue
7
Pages
771-782
ISSN
  • 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7005
DOI
10.1177/1362361315605624
PMC
PMC5015758
OpenAlex
W1883175783
Cited by
160
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11
FWCI
7.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Autism (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity) (cc-by-nc)
Funders
Nuffield Foundation (NCF/36343)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
Keywords
social communication skills, iPad apps, technology-based interventions, early intervention, preschool children, parent-child play, parent-reported outcomes, mobile health
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Child, Preschool, Communication, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Play Therapy, Software, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Treatment Outcome, Early Intervention, Educational, Social Skills

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