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A trial of an iPad ™ intervention targeting social communication skills in children with autism
Open accessAbstract
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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“adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders have higher rates of social media use [28] and may use screens to support social and communication skills [29]”
From The Conceptual and Methodological Mayhem of “Screen Time” (2020) · cites this paper as [29]
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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)
- Venue
- Autism
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-07-09
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 771-782
- ISSN
- 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7005
- 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
- hybrid
- doi.org
- 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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