Effect of mobile technology featuring visual scene displays and just-in-time programming on communication turns by preadolescent and adolescent beginning communicators

Abstract

Purpose: Visual scene displays (VSDs) and just-in-time programming supports are augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology features with theoretical benefits for beginning communicators of all ages. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effects of a communication application (app) on mobile technology that supported the just-in-time programming of VSDs on the communication of preadolescents and adolescents who were beginning communicators.

Method: A single-subject multiple-baseline across participant design was employed to evaluate the effect of the AAC app with VSDs programmed just-in-time by the researcher on the communication turns expressed by five preadolescents and adolescents (9–18 years old) who were beginning communicators.

Result: All five participants demonstrated marked increases in the frequency of their communication turns after the onset intervention.

Conclusion: Just-in-time programming support and VSDs are two features that may positively impact communication for beginning communicators in preadolescence and adolescence. Apps with these features allow partners to quickly and easily capture photos of meaningful and motivating events and provide them immediately as VSDs with relevant vocabulary to support communication in response to beginning communicators’ interests.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• adolescents
• visual scene displays
• mobile technology
• just-in-time supports

Declaration of interest

This article includes a word which is or is asserted to be a proprietary term or trade mark. Its inclusion does not imply it has acquired for legal purposes a non-proprietary or general significance, nor is any other judgement implied concerning its legal status. PCS™ is a Mayer-Johnson® product; a BIGmack is a light-tech, single-message, single-button voice output device manufactured by Ablenet®; the Tech Talk 8 and Tech Talk 32 are light-tech devices with grid displays allowing for up to 8 or 32 messages, respectively, and are manufactured by AMDi; iTalk2 is a two-message/two-button speech output device manufactured by Ablenet®; Quicktalker S devices are single-message, proximity-activated voice output options manufactured by Ablenet®; SuperTalker is a light-tech, voice output device featuring a grid display of up to eight messages manufactured by Mayer-Johnson®; the ProxPad™ plus Tangibles Kit is a light-tech option, proximity-activated voice output option manufactured by Logan® Tech.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded through [Grant #1R43HD059231-01A1] from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health. In addition, the first and second authors were supported by funding from the Penn State AAC Leadership Project, a doctoral training grant funded by U.S. Department of Education [grant #H325D110008].